Précis & Questions
The Italian Renaissance was a time when males were dominant within society. Therefore, it was very difficult for a female to gain recognition in any acknowledged profession. Sofonisba Anguissola strove to rise above her “station” by gaining what was elusive for a female; recognition in the masculine profession of art. She was known by many as the “marvel of nature,” because it was believed that only men could create beauty in art. To gain acceptance, she needed to portray herself as almost masculine, yet remain feminine enough to avoid being seen as stepping above her “station” entirely. Her hidden talent lay in her ability to reveal the truths she perceived in the character of people and society through cleverly veiled messages within her paintings.Sofonisba’s life was affected by many factors, but she likely would never have accomplished what she did without her father’s progressive attitude. Not only did her father invest in teaching his daughters “womanly” skills, he made sure that they had an education worthy of the sons of aristocracy which included art, language and reading.
Yet, art was considered beneath any high born child. This was a hurdle that was frequently overcome by males seeking to enter such a profession, but females had a distinctly more difficult time. In fact, it was unheard of for a female to gain entrance. So, it was a great boon when Bernardino Campi agreed to take Sofonisba as an apprentice for three years until 1549. Luckily, a new apprenticeship was found for Sofonisba with Bernardino Gatti in that same year. After three years had passed studying under Gatti, Sofonisba traveled to Rome where she fell under the tutelage of Michelangelo for the next two years starting in 1554. All three of these artists had a great influence on Anguissola’s painting style, but the variety provided by each caused her to develop a very distinctive mature style of her own. Yet even with the special touches to her painting, she was still not fully recognized for her own skill as a female.
Anguissola’s life changed forever during 1559. She was summoned by King Philip II to the Spanish court to act as a lady in waiting to his newly arrived bride, Queen Isabel. The two women become fast friends as some of the only foreigners to the Spanish court. Perhaps due to this friendship she branched out into the job of court painter, though she still was under-recognized. In fact, she was frequently referred to as a young girl or a non-professional painter. However, she persevered though all of these slights and continued to paint her subjects with subtle undertones to reveal her perception of their nature heeding her position both as a lady and as a court painter. She became a master of portraying a person’s nature through facial expressions because it was the only way in which she could speak freely.
Sofonisba Anguissola succeeded in establishing herself as a renowned painter; thus, earning her place in the male dominated art profession. Her life may not have been easy, but Anguissola followed her dreams into the art profession where she made a name for herself. The experiences that had brought her to the top shaped both her character and her portraits. Yet, she did more than paint, she told the story of her subjects’ character as she perceived them through the subtle means of hiding them on her canvas with a paint brush.
Questions:
· Were the hidden messages within Anguissola’s paintings understood during her time?
· How was Anguissola treated as a “marvel of nature?”
· What impact, if any, did Anguissola’s single marital status throughout most of her life have on her career?
· Anguissola portrayed the character she perceived in her subjects, but did her own character impact this perception? If so, how?
~
Image: Sofonisba Anguissola. Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola, c. 1558-59. Oil on canvas. Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena.
