Violante Beatrice Siries Cerroti (1709–1783)
• Was an Italian painter.
• She was born in Florence and studied with Giovanna Fratellini.
• After moving to Paris in 1726 she studied under Hyacinthe Rigaud and François Boucher.
• Upon returning to Florence she married Giuseppe Cerroti, about whom nothing is known, and continued her artistic studies under Francesco Conti.
• Violante was talented in several genres, but established herself as a portraitist.
• She succeeded in gaining the patronage of the Medici family, notably including Gian Gastone de' Medici.
• After the death of Giovanna Fratellini in 1731, she also received support from the Medici's financial partners, the Gondi family.
• Violante returned to Florence in 1732 and was accepted into the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno.
• In later life she became a respected teacher.
• Her pupils included Anna Bacherini Piattoli and Maria Cosway.
