Historical Dictionary of Renaissance

ANGUISSOLA, SOFONISBA

(1527-1625)
Italian painter noted for religious scenes and especially for portraits. She was the firstwomanpainter to establish an international reputation and to leave behind a significant body of work, and also one of the few not to be trained by a father who was an artist. The daughter of a Piedmontese nobleman, she studied under a respected artist of Cremona. By 1559 KingPhilip IIof Spain invited her to his court, where she became lady-in-waiting and drawing instructor to the queen. Most of her Spanish portraits were later destroyed by fire. Her best-known surviving painting portrays her three sisters playing chess.

  1. anguissola, sofonisba—Sofonisba Anguissola was the first woman artist to attain international fame. As a woman she was at a disadvantage since the painting of large altarpiecesstrong and fresc...Dictionary of Renaissance art
  2. anguissola, sofonisba—Sofonisba Anguissola the daughter of a provincial nobleman in Cremona achieved fame throughout Europe for her portrait paintings. Sofonisbas original use of genrelike sce...Renaissance and Reformation 1500-1620_ A Biographical Dictionary