Sofonisba Angusciola Pittrice

Born into an affluent family, Sofonisba Anguissola’s mother died at a very young age. Her aristocrat father made sure that Sofonisba’s and her sisters received a well-rounded education that included the fine arts. Although it was rare for female artists to receive any recognition during her time, Anguissola’s extraordinary talent allowed her to become quite well known, and thus was appointed to the Spanish court. She lived a very long life, continuing to paint the Spanish portraits and genre subjects for which she is recognized.