Description

While browsing an auction house for a table, the author noticed a magnificent eighteenth-century watercolour copy of a painting by Rubens, listed as ‘Attributed to Catherine da Costa’. What followed was a painstaking search for information about this seemingly unknown artist.

Lew traces  the history not only of Catherine’s family but also of Jews in 16th, 17th and 18th century Spain, Portugal and England. He discovered that Catherine da Costa was the first ever recorded female ‘Jewish painter’, and the first English-born ‘one’, male or female!

Now he wonders whether he might be the only private person on earth to own two Catherine da Costa paintings.

This book is published only as a hard cover edition and limited to 500 signed and numbered copies.

To purchase this book go to www.henryrlew.com.au

See the review in The Australian Jewish News here.