On this day in 1625, Sofonisba Anguissola, one of the Renaissance’s most celebrated female painters, passed away at the age of 93 in Palermo, Sicily. Born into a noble family in Cremona in 1532, Sofonisba’s groundbreaking achievements as an artist and court figure made her a pioneering figure in the male-dominated world of Renaissance art.
Encouraged by her father, Amilcare Anguissola, Sofonisba pursued an artistic education that was unusual for women of her time. Her exceptional talent caught the attention of Michelangelo Buonarroti, who praised her work and mentored her informally. In one notable exchange, she impressed him with a drawing of a boy laughing while being pinched by a crayfish.
Giorgio Vasari, the Renaissance’s foremost art historian, also lauded her abilities. He described her painting The Chess Game, showing her sisters playing chess, as “done with such care and such spirit, that they have all the appearance of life, and are wanting in nothing save speech.”
Service at the Spanish Court
In 1559, Sofonisba’s career took a momentous turn. Her father received a letter requesting her presence at the Spanish court of Philip II as a lady-in-waiting to Isabel of Valois, the young queen. Amilcare expressed his gratitude in a letter to the king, writing that it was an honour for his daughter to serve “the most powerful Catholic and Christian king in the world.”
Sofonisba, then 27, arrived in Spain after months of travel, first stopping in Guadalajara, where she attended the royal wedding. During the festivities, she danced with Ferrante Gonzaga, an event noted by ambassador Girolamo Neri. He wrote, “On the night of the wedding, the king proposed to dance, and since no one wanted to begin, Signore Ferrante Gonzaga was the first to dance; he asked the young Cremonese who paints and who came here to stay with the queen, which opened the way for many who danced after them.”
Sofonisba and Queen Isabel developed a close relationship, strengthened by their shared love of art. Sofonisba gave the queen drawing lessons, building on her experience teaching her younger sisters in Cremona. She remained at court after Isabel’s untimely death in 1568, taking on the role of governess to the queen’s daughters, Isabel Clara Eugenia and Catalina Micaela, with whom she formed deep bonds.
A Life of Resilience and Creativity
In 1573, after 14 years at the Spanish court, Sofonisba expressed her desire to return to Italy. Philip II arranged her marriage to Fabrizio de Moncada, a Sicilian nobleman, and provided her with a generous dowry. Tragedy struck when Fabrizio drowned in a pirate attack off Capri less than five years later.
On her journey back to Cremona, Sofonisba fell in love with Orazio Lomellino, the captain of the ship. They married and eventually settled in Genoa, where she continued painting. Influenced by the renowned Genoese artist Luca Cambiaso, she created many religious works during this period.
In 1615, Sofonisba and Orazio moved to Palermo, where she lived out the final decade of her life. Her reputation remained strong, and in 1624, she was visited by the Flemish master Anthony van Dyck, who described her as “clear of mind” despite her advanced age. He later credited her as a key influence, saying he had learned more from her than any other colleague.
Recommended Read
In this novel of Royal intrigue and artistic toil, we see the soul of the painter come alive. We watch as Sofonisba struggles to realize her dreams against the backdrop of patriarchal Europe. When Royal tragedy unfolds, we learn the true strength of our heroine.
Romance, hardship, bankruptcy, and a legacy of hundreds of paintings that still influence today’s artists. An authentic story of what it was like to be a woman of ambition in the Renaissance.
Disclosure
This website contains affiliate links to businesses we chose to partner with. If you use these links to buy something, we earn a small commission. It helps to keep us to keep the site going. Any advertising banners you may see are also links to partners. If you click on them and subsequently make a purchase, it may also earn us a commission.
