Sofonisba Anguissola: the only Renaissance woman painter at Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan houses only one Renaissance painting signed by a woman: Sofonisba Anguissola's self-portrait. Anguissola (Cremona, 1535 – Palermo, 1625) was an aristocratic painter trained under Bernardino Campi and Bernardino Gatti. Her talent was praised by Michelangelo, who challenged her to draw a crying subject, leading to a portrait of her brother Asdrubale bitten by a crab—a direct inspiration for Caravaggio's 'Boy Bitten by a Lizard'. She worked for the Gonzaga, Este, and Farnese families before being summoned to the Spanish court by Philip II in 1559 to teach painting to Infanta Elisabeth II. Her Brera self-portrait (1560–1561) hangs alongside works by Titian, Lorenzo Lotto, and Giovan Battista Moroni. The painting shows fine brushwork and Flemish influence, with a three-quarter pose and dark background that prefigure Caravaggio. Anguissola was one of the few women cited in Giorgio Vasari's 'Lives of the Artists' and pioneered the depiction of inner emotions in portraiture, following Leonardo da Vinci's studies on the 'moti dell'animo'.
Key facts
- Sofonisba Anguissola is the only Renaissance woman painter with a work at the Pinacoteca di Brera.
- Her self-portrait at Brera dates to 1560–1561.
- Anguissola was born in Cremona in 1535 and died in Palermo in 1625.
- She trained under Bernardino Campi and Bernardino Gatti.
- Michelangelo praised her talent and suggested she draw a crying subject.
- Her drawing of her brother Asdrubale bitten by a crab inspired Caravaggio's 'Boy Bitten by a Lizard'.
- She worked for the Gonzaga, Este, and Farnese families.
- In 1559, the Duke of Alba convinced Philip II of Spain to summon her to Madrid to teach painting to Infanta Elisabeth II.
- Her Brera self-portrait is displayed alongside works by Titian, Lorenzo Lotto, and Giovan Battista Moroni.
- Anguissola was one of the few women cited in Giorgio Vasari's 'Lives of the Artists'.
- She pioneered the depiction of inner emotions in portraiture, following Leonardo da Vinci.
- The painting shows Flemish influence and a three-quarter pose with dark background.
Entities
Artists
- Sofonisba Anguissola
- Bernardino Campi
- Bernardino Gatti
- Michelangelo Buonarroti
- Caravaggio
- Giorgio Vasari
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Tiziano
- Lorenzo Lotto
- Giovan Battista Moroni
- Amilcare Anguissola
- Asdrubale Anguissola
- Elena Anguissola
Institutions
- Pinacoteca di Brera
- Gonzaga
- Este
- Farnese
- Spanish court
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Cremona
- Palermo
- Madrid
- Spain
- Ferrara
- Lombardy
- Northern Italy