Sofonisba Anguissola

Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532–1625) was a pioneering Italian Renaissance painter and one of the first women to gain international recognition for her artistic talent. Born into a noble but relatively poor family in Cremona, she received a humanist education and formal training in art—unusual for women of her time. Her early work attracted the attention of Michelangelo, who offered her informal mentorship and praised her drawings. Anguissola became court painter and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth of Valois, the wife of Philip II of Spain, where she produced numerous portraits of Spanish royalty and nobility. Her refined, psychologically sensitive portraits—often of women and children—stood out for their naturalism and emotional depth. Unlike many artists of the era, she did not rely on large workshops, and many of her works reflect a distinctly personal style. After leaving Spain, she returned to Italy, where she continued painting and mentoring younger artists well into old age. Her long career and reputation helped pave the way for future generations of women in art.