Self Portrait
around 1554 | Sofonisba Anguissola
Born into a noble family from Cremona, Sophonisba was active as an internationally-renowned portrait painter until the end of her long life. She spent the years between 1560 and 1572 at the Spanish court as a lady-in-waiting and drawing teacher of Queen Isabelle de Valois. Unassuming yet self-assured, the artist is pointing at her name in the book she is holding. Despite its miniature-like format this self-portrait reflects the seriousness and ethos of her art: the faithful – unvarnished – rendering of Nature.
Born into a noble family from Cremona, Sophonisba was active as an internationally-renowned portrait painter until the end of her long life. She spent the years between 1560 and 1572 at the Spanish court as a lady-in-waiting and drawing teacher of Queen Isabelle de Valois. Unassuming yet self-assured, the artist is pointing at her name in the book she is holding. Despite its miniature-like format this self-portrait reflects the seriousness and ethos of her art: the faithful – unvarnished – rendering of Nature.
Artist:
Sofonisba Anguissola (1531/35 Cremona - 1625 Palermo) DNB
Depiction/Person:
Sofonisba Anguissola (1531/35 Cremona - 1625 Palermo) DNB
Time:
around 1554
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, Lombard
Material/technology:
Poplar wood
Dimensions:
Overall: 19,5 cm × 14,5 cm × 0,8 cm
Framed: 32,5 cm × 26,5 cm × 4 cm
Signed
Inscribed and dated in the book: Sophonisba Angussola Virgo seipsam fecit 1554
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 285
Provenance
1604 Coll. of Rudolf II (?); 1747/48 in the treasury