Jane Fortune facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Fortune
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| Born | August 7, 1942 Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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| Died | September 23, 2018 (aged 76) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.
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| Occupation | Author, journalist |
Jane Fortune (born August 7, 1942 – died September 23, 2018) was an American writer and journalist. She was known for her work in Florence, Italy. Jane focused on finding, restoring, and showing art made by women. She also gave money to support these projects.
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Writing About Art
Jane Fortune was the cultural editor for The Florentine. This was an English-language newspaper in Tuscany, Italy. She wrote regularly about art and culture from 2005 until she passed away in 2018.
Her first column, Mosaics, led her to write a guidebook. It was called To Florence, Con Amore: 77 Ways to Love the City (2007). A second edition came out later with more chapters.
Jane's later books and films were inspired by her goal to protect and share art by women artists. Her book, Invisible Women: Forgotten Artists of Florence (2009), talks about women painters in Florence. Many of their artworks needed to be restored. In 2012, she co-wrote another guidebook. It was called Art by Women in Florence: A Guide through Five Hundred Years. This book helps people find art by women in Florence's public collections.
Saving Art by Women
In 2005, Jane started a group in Italy to help women artists. It was called The Florence Committee of the National Museum for Women in the Arts. In 2006, this group helped restore a large painting. It was called Lamentation with Saints by Suor Plautilla Nelli. She was one of Florence's first known women painters from the Renaissance period.
In 2008, Jane helped restore another painting. This one was David and Bathsheba by Artemisia Gentileschi, a Baroque painter from the 1600s.
To do even more, Jane started a new organization in 2009. It was called the Advancing Women Artists Foundation (AWA). This group works to find, restore, and show art by women artists. They focus mainly on art in Florence, Italy.
Other Projects in Florence
Since 2009, the Advancing Women Artists Foundation (AWA) has restored many artworks. These include drawings, paintings, and sculptures by women artists. They worked on pieces from the 1500s to the 1800s. Some artists they helped include Suor Plautilla Nelli and Irene Parenti Duclos. They also restored works by French sculptor Félicie de Fauveau.
The foundation also supports art shows, talks, books, and films. These projects help share the achievements of historic women artists. They also have an awards program called 'The Nelli Awards'. It honors women working in Florence today, like curators, artists, and restorers.
In 2010, Jane started the Jane Fortune Research Program. It is at the Medici Archive Project in Florence. This program helps find old documents about women artists. It also supports scholars who study this material.
Projects in the United States
In 2008, Jane Fortune helped start the Indianapolis City Ballet (ICB). This group supports ballet performances. It brings international dancers to Indianapolis.
Jane was also involved with several art museums and schools in the United States. She helped create USArtists, an art show and sale. This event raised money for the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She also started a program for people with disabilities. This program helped them attend the art school.
Awards and Honors
In 2010, Jane Fortune received an honorary doctorate degree. This was from Indiana University. It recognized her work as a writer and her charitable efforts in the U.S. and Italy.
In 2007, she won an award for her work on accessibility. This award was for making places easier for people with disabilities to use.
In 2013, a film based on her book won an Emmy Award. The documentary was called Invisible Women: Forgotten Artists of Florence. It won for being the Best Historical/Cultural Program.
Also in 2013, Jane received the Tuscan-American Association Award. This award honors people who help the culture of Florence. Famous past winners include Andrea Bocelli and Franco Zeffirelli.
Death
Jane Fortune passed away at her home in Indianapolis on September 23, 2018. She was 76 years old. A special ceremony was held for her in Florence, Italy. It took place at the Basilica of Santa Croce on October 9, 2018. She is survived by her son, John Medveckis, and her daughter, Jennifer Medveckis.
