Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
Encyclopedia
Isabelle Laure Gatti de Gamond (28 July 1839–11 October 1905) was an Italo
-Belgian
educationalist, feminist, and politician
.
Isabelle Gatti was the second of four daughters born to Giovanni Gatti, an Italian artist, and feminist writer Zoé de Gamond
, of Brussels
. Born in Paris
, her family moved to Brussels when she was five, having lost their fortune in a failed phalanstère
—a utopian community inspired by the writings of utopian socialist Charles Fourier
—at Cîteaux.
Her mother, an inspector of girl's schools, died in 1854, and the family's genteel poverty forced Isabelle to seek employment. She found this in Poland
, working as a governess
with a Polish noble family. It was at this time that she became an autodidact, teaching herself Ancient Greek
, Latin
, and philosophy
.
She returned to Brussels in 1861, and continued her education by following public courses organised by the city government. Her ideas on education had already been formed, and in 1862 she launched the journal L'Education de la Femme (Women's Education) which championed the cause of schooling for girls.
In 1864, with the financial assistance of the city council, she launched the first systematic courses of secondary female education (Cours d'Éducation pour jeunes filles). Exceptionally for Belgium of the time, this venture was entirely independent of the Roman Catholic Church
, and provided the very first organised secular education for women in Belgium.
The Catholic press opposed her work, but the school was a success. Among the teachers were Marie Popelin
, Henriette Dachsbeck, and Anna-Augustine Amoré, mother of Marie Janson
. Mayor of Brussels Charles Buls
was a staunch supporter and assisted in the creation of an advanced, pre-university section in 1891.
Gatti retired from educational work in 1899 and entered politics as an activist for the Socialist Party
. Her support for universal adult suffrage did not meet with the support of the party's leadership, who expected women to vote for the Catholic Party
.
Her death following an operation in 1905 prevented her achieving the distinction of being the first female Freemason in Belgium. She is buried in Uccle
where the street where she lived bears her name.
In polls held by Belgian TV stations in 2005 to find the greatest Belgians, she was voted 55th in the De Grootste Belg
, the Dutch-language series, and 88th in the Le plus grand Belge
, the French-language programme.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
-Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
educationalist, feminist, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Isabelle Gatti was the second of four daughters born to Giovanni Gatti, an Italian artist, and feminist writer Zoé de Gamond
Zoé de Gamond
Zoé Charlotte de Gamond was a Belgian educator and feminist who wrote under the pseudonym Marie de G***.Zoé de Gamond was born in Brussels into a wealthy liberal family...
, of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, her family moved to Brussels when she was five, having lost their fortune in a failed phalanstère
Phalanstère
A phalanstère was a type of building designed for an utopian community and developed in the early 19th century by Charles Fourier. Based on the idea of a phalanx, this self-contained community ideally consisted of 1500-1600 people working together for mutual benefit...
—a utopian community inspired by the writings of utopian socialist Charles Fourier
Charles Fourier
François Marie Charles Fourier was a French philosopher. An influential thinker, some of Fourier's social and moral views, held to be radical in his lifetime, have become main currents in modern society...
—at Cîteaux.
Her mother, an inspector of girl's schools, died in 1854, and the family's genteel poverty forced Isabelle to seek employment. She found this in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, working as a governess
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
with a Polish noble family. It was at this time that she became an autodidact, teaching herself Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
She returned to Brussels in 1861, and continued her education by following public courses organised by the city government. Her ideas on education had already been formed, and in 1862 she launched the journal L'Education de la Femme (Women's Education) which championed the cause of schooling for girls.
In 1864, with the financial assistance of the city council, she launched the first systematic courses of secondary female education (Cours d'Éducation pour jeunes filles). Exceptionally for Belgium of the time, this venture was entirely independent of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, and provided the very first organised secular education for women in Belgium.
The Catholic press opposed her work, but the school was a success. Among the teachers were Marie Popelin
Marie Popelin
Marie Popelin was a Belgian feminist, educator, and advocate.Born in Schaerbeek into a middle-class family—one of her brothers was a doctor, another an army officer—Marie Popelin was well educated by the standards of the time and place...
, Henriette Dachsbeck, and Anna-Augustine Amoré, mother of Marie Janson
Marie Janson
Marie Janson was a Belgian politician and the first woman to serve in the Belgian senate. She was a daughter of Paul Janson and Anna-Augustine Amoré....
. Mayor of Brussels Charles Buls
Charles Buls
Charles Buls or Karel Buls was a Belgian politician and former mayor of the City of Brussels.-Early life:...
was a staunch supporter and assisted in the creation of an advanced, pre-university section in 1891.
Gatti retired from educational work in 1899 and entered politics as an activist for the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Belgium)
The following Socialist Parties exist in Belgium:* Left Socialist Party - Linkse Socialistische Partij/Parti Socialiste de Lutte * Parti Socialiste * Socialistische Partij Anders, Socialist Party Differently -See also:...
. Her support for universal adult suffrage did not meet with the support of the party's leadership, who expected women to vote for the Catholic Party
Catholic Party (Belgium)
The first Catholic Party in Belgium was established in 1869 as the Confessional Catholic Party .-History:In 1852 a Union Constitutionelle et Conservatrice was founded in Ghent, in Leuven , and in Antwerp and Brussels in 1858, which were active only during elections...
.
Her death following an operation in 1905 prevented her achieving the distinction of being the first female Freemason in Belgium. She is buried in Uccle
Uccle
Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...
where the street where she lived bears her name.
In polls held by Belgian TV stations in 2005 to find the greatest Belgians, she was voted 55th in the De Grootste Belg
De Grootste Belg
De Grootste Belg was a 2005 vote conducted by Belgian public TV broadcaster Canvas, public radio broadcaster Radio 1, and newspaper De Standaard, to determine who is the Greatest Belgian of all time...
, the Dutch-language series, and 88th in the Le plus grand Belge
Le plus grand Belge
Le plus grand Belge , was a television show on the Belgian French-speaking public channel RTBF. In the program the audience could vote for the greatest Belgian by using the website, sending an SMS or using the telephone...
, the French-language programme.