But Wait...There's More!!

Seems that I have more to say about Sofonisba Angussiola. I mean, she lived to the ripe old age of 92...girl did a lot of living!

Self Portrait, Sofonisba Anguissola

Sofonisba fun fact #1: She painted at least 12 self portraits. She was among the first artists to paint themselves as an artist. Her first self portrait was painted when she was about 18 years old, the last at around age 75.

Sofonisba fun fact #2:  Fabrizio de Moncada was Sofonisba's first husband who she married at the age of 39 in 1571. A short 8 years later Fabrizio died. She left Spain and set sail for Italy. It was on that ship that she met and fell in love with the ship's captain, Orazio Lomellino. She and Orazio were married in 1580, against the wishes of her family.

Bernardino Campi Painting
Sofonisba Anguissola, Sofonisba Anguissola

Sofonisba fun fact # 3: One of her more interesting self portraits was Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola. In this painting we see Sofonisba's teacher, Campi, painting a portrait of her. Some art historians suggest that Sofonisba painted this to mock her teacher and to prove that she was the better artist. I somehow doubt that since no contemporary evidence exists that supports this view.

Sofonisba Anguissola,
Sir Anthony Van Dyck

Sofonisba fun fact #4: We've already learned that Sofonisba was a mentor to other women artists of the day. But late in life she met a young Flemish painter Sir Anthony Van Dyck. She advised Van Dyck on technique and in return he painted her portrait.

Asdrubale Being Bitten by a Crab,
Sofonisba Anguissola

Sofonisba fun fact #5: It has been said that when Michelangelo saw a sketch by Sofonisba of a smiling girl he challenged her to depict the more difficult subject of a boy crying. Sofonisba was up to the challenge and produced Asdrubale Being Bitten by a Crab. A friend of Michelangelo's later sent the sketch to Cosimo de Medici, duke of Florence, from where it was widely copied and circulated.