Sofonisba Anguissola
Italian Renaissance Painter

1532-1625

By Beth Rodriguez

   

 

Although not afforded the same opportunities as their male contemporaries, many women managed to distinguish themselves as artists during the Renaissance. One of the earliest to do so was Sofonisba Anguissola. Anguissola was born circa 1532 in Cremona , Italy . She was the oldest child in a noble family, with five sisters and a brother.

Sofonisba and her sisters benefited from enlightened parents who made sure their daughters' artistic and musical talents were nurtured. When she was about fourteen years old, Sofonisba and her younger sister Elena were sent to study with respected local artist Bernardino Campi. The two girls lived as paying guests with the Campi family, taking lessons in painting and sketching. When Campi left for Milan in 1546, Sofonisba began studying with painter Bernardino Gatti. (Elena reportedly entered a convent at about the same time.)

Sofonisba became skilled enough to teach her other three sisters painting. One of them, Lucia, distinguished herself as an artist in her own right, but died when she was in her early twenties.

In 1554, Sofonisba journeyed to Rome . She had the great fortune to beintroduced to Michelangelo, who provided her with informal training and advice on her work. As he did for many younger artists, Michelangelo provided her with sketches of his own to copy. The following year, she returned home, but she and her family continued to correspond with the great master. A letter from her father to Michelangelo dated 1557 expresses his deep appreciation of Michelangelo's guidance to Sofonisba.

For the next few years she continued to work and paint in Cremona ,occasionally traveling to other Italian cities to paint portraits for other members of the nobility. Her social status (and gender) prevented her from selling her work, however. Her portraits were usually given as gifts.

Sofonisba's paintings usually focused on those subjects most easily available to her, including her family and herself. She appears to have worked mainly in portraits, although she did some religious paintings as well. Sofonisba developed a unique and innovative style in her portraits. Most portraits at the time showed their subjects in formal poses and little facial expression. Sofonisba liked to incorporate her subjects' hobbies in her paintings, as well as their emotions.

The Chess Game demonstrates both these aspects and is one of her best known portraits. Painted around 1555, it shows two of her sisters playing chess, as a third sister and a servant look on. Her sister Lucia looks confident that she is about to win, and Europa, who is watching has a gleeful expression on her face. In 1559, she was invited to become a become a lady-in-waiting and court painter to the new Queen of Spain. Sofonisba taught Isabel drawing and painting in addition to providing companionship.Sofonisba was well-compensated for her efforts, and given a lifelong pension from the Court.

While in Spain , Sofonisba completed one of her most famous self-portraits. Probably done around 1561, it shows her playing a spinet. While continuing Sofonisba's preference for showing her subjects in action, it also showcases her level of education. She can not only paint, but has been educated musically as well.

When Sofonisba was about 38, she married Fabrizio de Moncada, a Sicilian nobleman. The Spanish king, Philip II, arranged the union,and provided a sizeable dowry. The two returned to Sicily , where Fabrizio died of the plague, although the exact date is uncertain. After being widowed, Sofonisba decided to return home once again. She met her second husband on the ship from Sicily to Cremona . Orazio end of the voyage, Sofonisba had agreed to marry him and settle in his hometown of Genoa .

She continued to paint in Genoa and was sought out by younger artists. In 1625, Sofonisba returned to Sicily , where she died at the age of 93.

Many of Sofonisba's paintings have been lost in the succeeding centuries, whether due to fire, carelessness or neglect. Only about fifty of her paintings have survived to the present day, so it is difficult to give an accurate assessment of her artistic achievement.

Nevertheless, she was the first Italian woman to achieve international renown for her artwork and was surely an inspiration to the many women who followed her. 

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Beth Rodriguez is a writer who enjoys learning about the amazing accomplishments of women throughout history. She also serves as an editor for the feminist ezine www.expositorymagazine.net.