A Space of Their Own

Sofonisba Anguissola

Selected Works

Two young women are playing chess, while a young girl stands next to them and smiles at the younger of the players. The older player looks directly at the viewer, with her hand on a chess piece. There is a tree and a city in the background and an older man looks over at the group and their game from the right side of the canvas.

The Game of Chess

1555
Sofonisba Anguissola, The Game of Chess, 1555. Oil on canvas, 72 x 97 cm. National Museum, Poznań.
National Museum, Poznań

A full-length portrait of a woman and a young girl, standing against a green background with a window open on a cloudy sky. The woman is dressed in black with white lace accents, while the young girl wears an elaborate green and yellow gown, holding three flowers. They both look out at the viewer with neutral expressions, although the woman looks irritated.

Madonna and Child

1555
Sofonisba Anguissola, Juana of Austria and a Young Girl, 1561–62. Oil on canvas, 194 x 108.3 cm. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

A self-portrait of the artist at the easel, painting an image of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus. She is holding a brush in one hand and a Mahl stick in the other. She looks up from her work and directly at the viewer with a bright, neutral expression.

Self-Portrait

1556.
Sofonisba Anguissola, Self-Portrait, 1556. Oil on canvas, 66 x 57 cm. Łańcut Castle, Poland.
Łańcut Castle, Poland

A full-length portrait of a boy standing at a column, with his elbow resting on it. A dog sleeps at his feet. He is wearing all black with white lace accents at his collar and sleeves and he looks out directly at the viewer. His left hand rests on the sword attached to his hip.

Portrait of Massimiliano Stampa

1557
Sofonisba Anguissola, Portrait of Massimiliano Stampa, 1557. Oil on canvas, 136 x71.5 cm. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

A round portrait of two children: a boy on the left in a red tunic, holding a book, and a girl on the right in a green dress with a white chemise. They are cropped at the waist against a black background. The girl has his arm around the boy and looks at him while the boy looks off into the distance.

Double Portrait of a Boy and Girl of the Attavanti Family

1580s
Sofonisba Anguissola, Double Portrait of a Boy and Girl of the Attavanti Family, 1580s. Oil on panel, 40 cm. Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College.
Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College

An oval self-portrait miniature of the artist at half-length, standing in front of a green background. She looks directly at the viewer with a slight smile. She is holding a round plaque that identifies her.

Self-Portrait

about 1556
Sofonisba Anguissola, Self-Portrait, about 1556. Oil (?) on parchment, 8.3 x 6.4 cm. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

A half-length portrait of a women wearing a black dress with a lace shawl and lace at her sleeves and high collar. She is wearing a red beaded necklace and she holds it with her right hand. She looks out directly at the viewer with a confident, neutral expression.

Portrait of Pietro Manna, Physician from Cremona

ca. 1557-60
Sofonisba Anguissola, La Reina Ana de Austria, 1573. Oil on canvas, 86 x 67.5 cm. Museo del Prado.
Museo del Prado

A portrait of a young man against a dark background, cropped at the thighs. He is extravagantly dressed in a brocade cap lined with ermine fir and a black, embellished hat. His left hand is gloved and rests on the sword he has at his hip. He looks at the viewer directly, with confidence.

Portrait of Prince Alessandro Farnese

ca. 1560
Sofonisba Anguissola, Portrait of Prince Alessandro Farnese, ca. 1560. Oil on canvas, 107 x 79 cm. National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

An image of five figures, with the Virgin Mary seated at the center. The infant Jesus stands between her knees and leans into her, and she looks down at him. The infant Saint John the Baptist stands to their left, looking over at them with a lit candle on a table in front of him.

Portrait of Minerva Anguissola

ca. 1564
Sofonisba Anguissola, The Holy Family with Saints Anne and John the Baptist, 1592. Oil on canvas, 125.7 x 110.5 cm. Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami.
Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan

A half-length portrait of a man in a black outfit with white lace at his collar and his sleeves. He is seated on a chair with red behind him. He is wearing a tall, black hat. He holds a rosary in his left hand and looks directly at the viewer.

Felipe II

n.d.
Sofonisba Anguissola, Felipe II, 1573. Oil on canvas, 88 x 72 cm. Museo del Prado.
Museo del Prado

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