Skip to main content

Trace:Sharples

By Vicki Cooke 2015

Dimensions
40x50

Many women were making art in the 17th and 18th century, but much of their work has disappeared without a trace. How do we choose to remember the past when what we see is always incomplete? The ghosts of the forgotten are haunting, but through the action of drawing, they are remembered. Featuring in the series 'A Woman of Genius', rediscovering the lives of women artists. Sharples was an English painter from the early 1800s who ehibeted widely at the time.
Vicki cooke artemesia gentilschi 157228 Vicki Cooke

Sandpaper: Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-Lebrun

Erased, Redrawn: Artemesia Gentilschi

Many women were making art in the 17th and 18th century, but much of their work has disappeared without a trace. How do we choose to remember the past when what we see is always incomplete? The ghosts of the forgotten are haunting, but through the action of drawing, they are remembered. Featuring in the series 'A Woman of Genius', rediscovering the lives of women artists. Fratellini ran a successful studio in Florence in the Baroque period and painted portraits and religious scenes.

Trace:Fratellini

Join Axis

We support artists

Funding, visibility, connection and practical help. 

Membership includes £15 million of Public Liability Insurance!

Axis is an independent charity, funded by our members. 
Become a Member

Axis turns 35 this year

In 2026, we’ll put more than £70,000 directly into artists’ hands.

We support artists with funding, visibility, connection and practical help. 

Membership includes £15 million of Public Liability Insurance!

Axis is an independent charity, funded by our members. 
Learn more