Sofonisba Anguissola Research Paper

Sofonisba Anguissola was a female painter who practiced during the Renaissance. She was born in Cremona but was got to experience places far and wide because of her talents. Sofonisba traveled to Rome were she was recognized by Michelangelo, who praised her skills. Later, she was even given the honor of becoming a lady in waiting at the Spanish court. There she painted numerous portraits of the royal family and became a lady of high esteem. Living to the old age of 93, Sofonisba accomplished a considerable amount in her life, and paved the way for Renaissance women to pursue careers in art.
1. Who were Sofonisba’s first teachers?
a. Her father first sent Sofonsiba and her sister to Bernando Campi. They studied under him for 3 years, (until …show more content…
Sofonisba mainly painted portraiture because women did not get to portray religious figures, as they weren’t allowed to view nudes. Since religion was the main artistic topic at the time, she was left to be creative in other ways. She resorted to new styles of portraiture where the subject was positioned in active ways.
b. Also, during her early years, she did not get to paint in studios or outside the home. So, she resorted to painting the themes most available to her, such as her own family.

4. How did her time at the Spanish court influence her art?
a. At the Spanish court, she was required to paint stiffer portraits with increased detail. Royal portraiture was very different and much more demanding than what she had painted at home. This caused her art to develop to a higher lever which allowed her to be more comparable to other painters at the time.
b. She had to leave behind the styles she developed and the comfort she felt at home. The new stiffness she painted at the court may have reflected a stiffness she felt in herself.

5. How did Sofonisba present herself, as a woman, in her self-portraits?
a. Primarily, she would sign off as a virgin in her art pieces which showed her religious devotion. Sofonisba would have identified with the virgin Mary, which inspired her

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