Oil painting -> List of Painters -> Sofonisba Anguissola

Personal Details Name Sofonisba Anguissola Place of birth Cremona, Lombardy, Italy Date of Birth c. 1532 Date of Death November 16, 1625 (age 93) Nationality Italian Field Portrait Painting, Drawing Training Bernardino Campi, Bernardino Gatti Movement Late Renaissance Patrons Philip II of Spain

Sofonisba Anguissola was an Italian Renaissance painter who is considered one of the most important female artists of the 16th century. She was born around 1535 in Cremona, Italy, to a noble family.

Her father, Amilcare Anguissola, was an amateur painter, and he encouraged his daughter to pursue a career in art. Anguissola was trained in the studio of local painter Bernardino Campi and was also tutored in the classics. Anguissola developed a reputation as a brilliant portrait painter.

Her works were praised by Michelangelo and other Italian masters. Her portraits often depicted her sisters, and her works were highly sought after during her lifetime. She received commissions from the Spanish court in Madrid, where she was appointed court painter to King Philip II. In addition to portrait painting, Anguissola also experimented with mythological and allegorical subjects.

She was especially well known for her self-portraits, which she often used to demonstrate her mastery of the craft. Her self-portraits also conveyed her strong religious convictions, and she was known to incorporate themes of humanism and Christian morality into her work. Anguissola was an influential figure in the development of European art. She was the first female artist to gain recognition in the European art world and paved the way for other female artists to gain recognition.

She was known for her innovative use of color and her use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses light and shade to create depth. Anguissola was also an important figure in the intellectual life of the Renaissance. She was well-read and had strong opinions on politics and religion. She was a vocal opponent of the Spanish Inquisition and a supporter of the Protestant Reformation. Anguissola's legacy lives on in her works, which can be found in galleries and museums around the world.

She is remembered as one of the most important female artists of the Renaissance and for her role in helping to shape European art.

   Works Of Sofonisba Anguissola: