Anguisciola, Sofonisba

Anguisciola or Anguissola, Sofonisba (sōfōnēs`bä äng'ēshō`lä, -sōlä), 1532–1625, Italian painter, b. Verona, Italy. Born to a noble family, she studied first with Michelangelo and painted primarily portraits of herself and her family members. Although she never received critical praise, Anguisciola was the first Italian woman artist to achieve social acceptance. Her work is represented throughout Italy. She also painted for the Spanish court of Philip II. Van Dyck painted her portrait (1623).

Bibliography

See study by I. S. Perlingieri (1992).