Angelica Kauffman: 7 Facts on the Swiss Prodigy and Royal Academy Founder

Angelica Kauffman (1741–1807), a Neoclassical painter born in Switzerland, achieved remarkable success in the 18th century. Under the guidance of her father, a local artist, she was producing advanced works by the age of 13. Opting for a career in painting over music, she relocated to Italy, where she began receiving commissions as a teenager. By the mid-1760s, Kauffman had gained recognition in Britain and formed a friendship with Joshua Reynolds in London. She created numerous self-portraits and explored various genres, including history painting. Kauffman married twice: first in 1767 to the fraudulent Count Frederick de Horn, whose marriage was annulled after her father intervened, and later in 1781 to painter Antonio Zucchi. In 1768, she co-founded the Royal Academy of Arts. Although her fame waned after her death, she was rediscovered in the 20th century.