Solo show
Sofonisba Anguissola
11 Feb 2023 — 11 Jun 2023 at Rijksmuseum Twenthe
· Enschede
This exhibition shines a spotlight on Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532–1625), one of the most remarkable painters of the Renaissance era. Born in Cremona, she defied the conventions of her time to become a celebrated court portraitist, serving at the Spanish royal court of Philip II and earning the admiration of Michelangelo himself.
Anguissola's portraits — intimate, psychologically acute, and technically accomplished — redefined what was possible for women artists in sixteenth-century Europe. This presentation brings together key works that trace her career, from early self-portraits to grand court commissions, offering visitors a rare opportunity to engage with a trailblazing figure whose influence is still being fully recognized today.
Anguissola's portraits — intimate, psychologically acute, and technically accomplished — redefined what was possible for women artists in sixteenth-century Europe. This presentation brings together key works that trace her career, from early self-portraits to grand court commissions, offering visitors a rare opportunity to engage with a trailblazing figure whose influence is still being fully recognized today.
About the artist
Sofonisba Anguissola
1531–1625 · Mannerism
Sofonisba Anguissola was an Italian Renaissance painter born in Cremona to a relatively poor noble family. She received a well-rounded education that included the fine arts, and her apprenticeship with local painters set a precedent for women to be accepted as students of art. As a young woman…
About the artist →About the venue
Rijksmuseum Twenthe
· Enschede
The Rijksmuseum Twenthe in Enschede, the Netherlands, was founded in 1927 by textile industry Baron Jan Bernard Van Heek. He donated his own private collection and the museum building to the government, thus making it a national museum. The museum is situated in the quarter of Roombeek, 10 minutes…
