Sofonisba Anguissola Essay

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Sofonisba Anguissola was born in the bustling city of Cremona, Italy. She was the eldest of seven children, only one of whom was a boy. Both her parents were of noble blood, her father Amilcare Anguissola, and her mother Biance Ponzone. Her name was derived from a Carthaginian princess which stands for, “exceedingly beautiful and notable”. At a very young age, Sofonisba was pushed to her explore her artistic abilities. She showed her skills through bold uses of identity, she shadowed and studied the famous painters Bernardino Campino and Bernardino Gatti. Since women could not study anatomy concerning man, Sofonisba focused solely on the “portraiture” (which means the art of creating portraits).
By the age of 15, Sofonisba had out-shined her peers an astounded multiple artist with the uniqueness and detail inscribed through her distinct style. By the age of 20, Sofonisba produced the …show more content…

Sofonisba Anguissola not only paints herself in the portrait (very frowned upon during this time period) but also includes a sacred religious symbol, Madonna and child. At the bottom of the painting she put “Sofonisba Anguissola, a virgin, made this herself”. Behavior like this coming from a lady, was unheard of. The painting contrast light and dark shadows beautifully. The details are crafted and delicate, the picture shows just how skilled Anguissola is. Chiaroscuro is evident and the transitions are flawlessly executed. Art critic Calabrese states, “One of Sofonisba’s self-portraits where she is shown painting the Madonna and Child, contains an indicative inscription: “I, Sofonisba Anguissola, unmarried, am the equal of the Muses and Apelles in playing my songs and handling my paints.” In other words, Anguissola compares herself to the most renowned (male) painter in antiquity, thereby following a rhetorical scheme that had become common in the late

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