Sofonisba Anguissola: portrait of a lady in white satin

Born into a noble family in Cremona, the Renaissance painter Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532-1625) received an advanced artistic education, rare for a woman of her time. She specialised in portraits, distinguishing herself by her psychological sensitivity and the finesse of her style. Invited to the court of Philip II of Spain, she became official painter and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elisabeth of Valois. One of the first female artists to achieve international recognition, she was admired during her lifetime, particularly by Van Dyck.

This book is devoted to the enigmatic Portrait of a Lady in White Satin, belonging to the Klesch collection and long attributed to Bernardino Campi, Anguissola's first master. He presents an in-depth analysis of the portrait, unravelling Anguissola's early artistic style, cultivated in Cremona and at the court of King Philip II in Spain. Departing from conventional accounts of Anguissola, this book offers a fresh, factual perspective, highlighting the diversity of the Italian painter's artistic output and the rich history behind this vibrant portrait.