When someone mentions Renaissance-era artists, the most common names listed off tend to be Italian…and male: Michelangleo, da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, Donatello, Botticelli; those are the ones I easily recognize. However, one woman did manage to stand out in what appears to be an Italian sausage party, Sofonisba Anguissola.
Born the eldest daughter of northern aristocrats in 1532, Sofonisba’s potential was recognized and harnessed early thanks to her social status. Due to her gender and the backlash against women the era ushered, she was only tutored to draw, sketch or paint portraits. The art we often associate with the period (pictures with partial/full nudity, historical pieces, Biblical illustrations or a mix of previous three) were off limits. It was inappropriate for women to view nude models (either gender), let alone paint them. Plus Thomas Aquinas’ philosophical crap said females were inferior. Portraits were all Sofonisba was left with.
At least she turned this limitation to her advantage, by the time Sofonisba Anguissola died at 92-93, she was one of the greatest portrait painters of her generation and completed more self-portraits until Rembrandt. Her career also entailed correspondence with Michelangelo, frequent gigs in the royal court of Spain and before she passed, a visit by a Flemish fan named Van Dyck seeking advice.
If you do a search for her name via Google, you can easily see images of Sofonisba’s work and distinctive style, especially with the eyes. Owning a painting by her is more than an investment too, many Europeans consider it a sign of prestige.