Sofonisba Anguissola

At age 14, she apprenticed with Bernardino Campi, setting a precedent for women to be accepted as art students and paving the way for future female artists to receive formal training.¹

Her work 'Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola' is a unique and intellectually complex double portrait depicting her teacher in the act of painting her own likeness.¹

Challenged by Michelangelo to draw a weeping boy, she created 'Child Bitten by a Lobster.' Her ability to capture vivid emotion impressed the master and solidified her reputation.¹

In Rome, she was mentored by Michelangelo for about two years; he provided her with sketches and advice, recognizing her exceptional talent in drawing and expression.¹

At the Spanish court, she adapted her style from intimate family portraits to the formal requirements of official state portraiture, refining her ability to capture character within rigid constraints.¹

In 1559, she was recruited to Madrid as a tutor to Queen Elizabeth of Valois and later became an official court painter to Philip II, a major turning point that established her international fame.¹

After the Queen's death, she moved to Sicily and later Genoa following an arranged marriage. She remained a leading portrait painter for various courts until her death at age 93.¹