Anguissola, Sofonisba (1532–1625)
Anguissola, Sofonisba (1532–1625)
A painter and portraitist, Sofonisba Anguissola was born in Cremona, Italy, the daughter of noble parents. She studied painting in Cremona and in 1554 traveled to Rome, where she met Michelangelo, who agreed to critique copies she made of his sketches. Social conventions prevented her from rendering mythical allegories or biblical subjects, which frequently contained nude figures, or large-scale historical works. As a result she specialized in portraits of family members and acquaintances in domestic settings. In 1559 she became a court painter for Elizabeth of Valois, the queen of Spain. At the royal court in Madrid she painted official portraits that found favor with the royal family as well as aristocratic patrons. King Philip II of Spain rewarded her with a generous pension. In 1580 she returned to Italy, settling in Genoa, where she set up a private studio and became one of the city's most prominent artists. As the first woman to win renown as a painter during the Renaissance, she inspired many younger women to pursue similar careers.