Sofonisba Anguissola: The First Great Woman Artist of the Renaissance

Traces the life of the Italian artist who was an apprentice to Michelangelo and court painter to King Philip II of Spain, and discusses her major paintings. "Anguissola was erased from the annals of art history for four centuries, but Perlingieri's exhaustive archival research reestablishes her as a force in the creation of 16th-century art. Her resurrection is cause for rejoicing, but it also forces us to consider the injustice of the loss of a master who painted for over 80 years. Born into nobility, the artist benefited from astute parenting and a comprehensive education that included study under Campi, Gatti, and, briefly, Michelangelo. Both Mannerist and High Renaissance influences penetrate her impressive body of work. Perlingieri unleashes the essential truth of a female painter who flourished despite antagonism from patriarchal society, thoroughly underscoring Anguissola's characteristic technique and style in rendering emotion and anatomy. The deft descriptions of period costumes mirror the accuracy and seriousness with which Anguissola painted. The book's flaws--e.g., imprecise page layout, repeated sentences, misnumbered plates--do not outweigh the importance of the documentation. Recommended for most collections."--Library Journal.… (more)