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Elizabeth A.Sackler Center for Feminist Art

Novella D’Andrea

Flourished circa 1325, Bologna, Italy

Novella d’Andrea was the daughter of Giovanni d’Andrea (ca. 1270/75–1348), a distinguished professor of canon (church) law at the University of Bologna. Novella herself became a legal scholar, lecturing at the university in her father’s absence. Apparently quite beautiful, tradition has it that she delivered lectures from behind a curtain so as not to distract the students. The same story is told of Bettisia Gozzadini.