Presented By: Robert Simon Fine Art
Dates: 19 October – 25 November 2026
Location: Robert Simon Fine Art, New York City
Format: Exhibition
Source: Robert Simon Fine Art, Press Release, 29 September 2026
From 19 October to 25 November 2026, Robert Simon Fine Art in New York presents Suor Plautilla Nelli: La Prima, a landmark exhibition dedicated to Suor Plautilla Nelli (1524–1588), the Dominican nun and pioneering Renaissance painter who became the first Florentine woman to achieve widespread recognition as an artist.
The first monographic exhibition devoted to Nelli outside her native Florence, La Prima brings together fourteen paintings and one drawing by the artist or directly connected with the workshop she established at the Convent of Santa Caterina in Cafaggio. Its title recalls Giorgio Vasari’s recognition of Nelli as “the first” among the women painters of her time.
While Nelli’s monumental religious paintings remain in Florence, notably at the Uffizi, Santa Maria Novella and San Marco, much of her artistic production consisted of intimate devotional works created for Florentine families and the nuns of her convent. These paintings form the heart of the exhibition, offering visitors an opportunity to explore her distinctive artistic practice and the remarkable workshop she directed.
Among the highlights are Christ and the Virgin Interceding with God the Father, one of only three known signed works by Nelli, her Portrait of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, and several compositions depicting the Madonna and Child accompanied by saints.
The exhibition is accompanied by a 110-page illustrated catalogue, edited by Gallery Director Dominic Ferrante, featuring contributions from international scholars and new technical research into Nelli’s materials and painting methods.
For Artemisia Gold, which has supported the conservation and renewed study of Nelli’s work, this exhibition represents another significant step towards restoring the artist’s rightful place within Renaissance art history and bringing her achievements to an international audience.
Plan Your Visit
Exhibition: Suor Plautilla Nelli: La Prima
Dates: 19 October – 25 November 2026
Venue: Robert Simon Fine Art
Address: 22 East 80th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10075
Opening Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Further Information: Robert Simon Fine Art
Press Release: Available as an accompanying PDF.
