Sofonisba Anguissola Research Paper
Sofonisba Anguissola was an established painter of the late Renaissance, and was one of the most well-known female painters of the time. Born in 1532 in Cremona, Italy, her and her six siblings were raised with a noble upbringing. In 1546, she moved to the home of accomplished painter Bernardino Campi to train under his instruction. She stayed with him for three years, then was taken under the wing of Bernardino Gatti, who was another noted painter, for three more years. At one point in her training, Anguissola had been noticed so much that she acquired the help of Michelangelo. The famous sculptor sent Anguissola a sketch and had her copy it on her own, then Anguissola sent it back to Michelangelo for him to appraise it (Kuiper). At this time
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These two paintings were of Sofonisba herself and of a noble respectively. Anguissola was "praised by her contemporaries" as the most accomplished female painter of the time. Her, Dürer and Rembrandt were in competition for most self-portraits, which Anguissola took the title for. The miniature piece shows her "meticulous technique and a Renaissance taste for puzzles," shown by the letters on the medallion that seem to be a monogram. On the outside edges, there is a phrase written in Latin that reads: "The maiden Sofonisba Anguissola, depicted by her own hand, from a mirror, at Cremona," (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). This promotes Anguissola because when people look at the piece, they focus on the person in it which then draws their attention to Anguissola as a painter. Another form of self-promotion that Anguissola put forward was the promotion of others by painting them, shown by her piece, Portrait of Juana of Austria and a Young Girl. In this piece, the main focus was Juana of Austria, who, despite her title, was the Princess of Portugal and a girl who was thought to be “a young aristocrat under her protection who is being prepared to enter the religious order," (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum). The portrait of Juana of Austria and the girl was painted in 1561 for the pope, and the intention was
These two paintings were of Sofonisba herself and of a noble respectively. Anguissola was "praised by her contemporaries" as the most accomplished female painter of the time. Her, Dürer and Rembrandt were in competition for most self-portraits, which Anguissola took the title for. The miniature piece shows her "meticulous technique and a Renaissance taste for puzzles," shown by the letters on the medallion that seem to be a monogram. On the outside edges, there is a phrase written in Latin that reads: "The maiden Sofonisba Anguissola, depicted by her own hand, from a mirror, at Cremona," (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). This promotes Anguissola because when people look at the piece, they focus on the person in it which then draws their attention to Anguissola as a painter. Another form of self-promotion that Anguissola put forward was the promotion of others by painting them, shown by her piece, Portrait of Juana of Austria and a Young Girl. In this piece, the main focus was Juana of Austria, who, despite her title, was the Princess of Portugal and a girl who was thought to be “a young aristocrat under her protection who is being prepared to enter the religious order," (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum). The portrait of Juana of Austria and the girl was painted in 1561 for the pope, and the intention was