Prado Exhibition Highlights Renaissance Women Painters Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana
The Museo del Prado in Madrid showcases 'Historia de dos pintoras: Sofonisba Anguissola y Lavinia Fontana,' a significant exhibition commemorating its Bicentennial and highlighting the lack of representation of women in the art world. This display includes 65 pieces, featuring 56 paintings by both Anguissola (Cremona, 1535–Palermo, 1625) and Fontana (Bologna, 1552–Rome, 1614). Anguissola served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elisabeth of Valois in Madrid from 1559 to 1573, with four of her works, including portraits of Philip II and Elisabeth, housed at the Prado. Fontana, recognized as the first female artist to operate her own workshop, is celebrated for 'Minerva' (1604–1605) and 'Marte e Venere' (1595). The exhibition is open until February 2, 2020.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Historia de dos pintoras: Sofonisba Anguissola y Lavinia Fontana' at Museo del Prado, Madrid, until February 2, 2020.
- Part of the Prado's Bicentennial celebrations.
- 65 works on display, including 56 paintings by the two artists.
- Sofonisba Anguissola (1535–1625) and Lavinia Fontana (1552–1614) were pioneering professional female painters.
- Anguissola lived in Madrid from 1559 to 1573 as lady-in-waiting to Queen Elisabeth of Valois.
- Prado holds four works by Anguissola, including portraits of Philip II, Elisabeth of Valois, and Ana of Austria.
- Fontana's 'Minerva nuda' (1604–1605) from Collezione Pavirani, Bologna, is a highlight.
- Loans include Anguissola's 'Ritratto di famiglia' from Nivaaagaaard Collection, Denmark, and Fontana's 'Ritratto di Costanza Alidosi' from National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington.
- Curator Leticia Ruiz and director Miguel Falomir are key figures.
- Exhibition follows a 2016 Prado show on Clara Peeters.
Entities
Artists
- Sofonisba Anguissola
- Lavinia Fontana
- Lucia Anguissola
- Clara Peeters
- Federica Lonati
Institutions
- Museo del Prado
- Galleria Colonna
- Accademia Carrara
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Monastery of the Escorial
- Casa d'Alba
- Collezione Pavirani
- Nivaaagaaard Collection
- Galleria Borghese
- Artribune
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain
- Cremona
- Italy
- Palermo
- Bologna
- Rome
- Łańcut
- Poland
- Washington
- United States
- Denmark
- Milan
- Bergamo