Some of these scenes showed reversed gender roles, men displaying their superiority, women suffering for betraying their defined social roles. These scenes illustrated how the success of the community as a whole relied on the commitment to proper gender roles. In regards to women defying their role, the artists would show scenes of the women suffering to reaffirm that negative results come from straying from their correct gender roles. In Benvenuto Cellini's bronze sculpture, Perseus Holding the Head of Medusa (1545 - 1554) http://www.glbtq.com/arts/cellini_b,zoom.html, Perseus is displaying superiority over Medusa, who had, in a sense, betrayed her correct gender/social role. This sculpture reiterates the message that women are to be submissive and are inferior to men and their consequences if they are not. Symbolism was also used in Baroque art to portray women in both positive and negative situations. Most of the symbolism was in reference to an historical event that led to a lesson in acceptable behavior. Another important element in a women's representation is her appearance. Nudity in women symbolized weakness, immorality, and impending death. Hair and clothing of a woman are important because they may represent a significant event in her life and her resulting emotions. One artist who focused heavily on symbolism in the female's appearance was Bernini Gian Lorenzo. In his sculpture, L' estasi di Santa Teresa (1647 - 1652), Bernini uses dramatic and sensual waves in the woman's hair and gown, which portrays that she is submissive and wishes to be touched. http://www.thais.it/scultura/image/sch00349.htm .
During the early Romantic period, the role of women was broadened from being merely housewives and mothers to one with more educational duties. The issue of woman's rights was addressed during the early Romantic period for three reasons: the French Revolution, legislation in, and finally, the Industrial Revolution.
