Sofonisba's Lesson: A Renaissance Artist and Her Work

Description

The formation and career of the first major woman artist of the Renaissance Sofonisba Anguissola (ca. 1535-1625) was the daughter of minor Lombard aristocrats who made the unprecedented decision to have her trained as a painter outside the family house. She went on to serve as an instructor to Isabel of Valois, the young queen of Spain. Sofonisb

Michael W. Cole is professor of art history and archaeology at Columbia University. His recent books include A New History of Italian Renaissance Art with Stephen J. Campbell and Leonardo, Michelangelo, and the Art of the Figure. He lives in New York City.

"Shortlisted for Apollo's Book of the Year 2020" "A substantial monograph that opens at the poignant moment when Sofonisba 'left her father's home' to study art."---Deborah Solomon, New York Times "Sofonisba's Lesson tells the story of how it was possible for a young Cremona woman to make a name for herself in the competitive man's world of 1550s Italy and further afield in Spain . . . Having run through the biographical information intrigued and entranced, the reader will hit upon the catalog of works without even realizing it; Cole writes with a style that is both thought-provoking and relatable, his subject matter indelibly endearing."---Cindy Helms, New York Journal of Books "Cole's book carefully and with historical rigour suggests what at 16th-century feminist might have looked like, while offering a compelling example of feminist art history for the present day."---Alexander Marr, Apollo "Cole makes a strong case for Sofonisba being one of the most significant artists of the 16th century."---Caroline Campbell, London Review of Books "Sofonisba Anguissola (c1534-1625) is often identified as one of the first great Renaissance women artists, yet there has not been a scholarly monograph in English on her since Ilya Sandra Perlingieri's Sofonisba Anguissola: The First Great Woman Artist of the Renaissance (1992). Thus, this fascinating book is a welcome addition to the literature . . . [T]his book makes a significant contribution to better understanding of Anguissola's oeuvre. Directed toward a scholarly audience (for example, some Italian phrases go untranslated), this beautiful catalogue is an important study of a groundbreaking artist." * Choice * "[Sofonisba's Lesson] is well written and an enjoyable read. . . . It is recommended that this book should be in every library - college or public - that has art history in its scope. It is also of great use to courses that cover the Renaissance and its material, intellectual, and social culture."---Stephen J. Bury, ARLIS/NA Reviews "Michael Cole's Sofonisba's Lesson brilliantly brings this female artist to life, exploring her art within the context of the networks and relationships that formed her world. . . . Sofonisba's Lesson makes a significant and welcome contribution to our understanding of Sofonisba Anguissola's life and art, and to the expanding field of studies on early modern women artists, accessible to specialists and enthusiasts alike."---Adelina Modesti, Parergon