Sofonisba Anguissola – The name that twists tongues and captivates hearts.
Sofonisba Anguissola – try to repeat that name three times fast!
The name Sofonisba Anguissola doesn’t roll off the tongue easily. To help, here’s the breakdown: So-fo-nees-bah Ahn-gwee-sola. Beyond the unique name lies a forgotten artist whose works are now being reclaimed. Paintings once wrongly attributed to men are finally recognized as hers, proving her unparalleled talent.
Sofonisba Anguissola is the subject of a new novel by Melissa Muldoon
Back in the spotlight and the subject of my new novel!
Inspired by her story, I’ve written a historical novel: “The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola—The Most Famous Woman You’ve Never Heard Of.” Praised by Michelangelo and Giorgio Vasari, she earned a place in art history as a trailblazing female artist.
“Sofonisba, has labored at the difficulties of design with greater study and better grace than any other woman of our time, and she has not only succeeded in drawing, coloring, and copying from nature, and in making excellent copies of works by other hands, but has also executed by herself alone some very choice and beautiful works of painting.” — Giorgio Vasari
Strength, emotion, and brilliance before her time.
Sofonisba’s art reveals strength and emotion, with chiaroscuro predating Caravaggio. Like Rembrandt, her self-portraits celebrate her artistic identity and the passage of time. Her exceptional life earned her admiration from Michelangelo, who recognized her genius.
An artist who conquered the canvas and the world.
Born in Cremona in 1532, Sofonisba’s talent blossomed early, leading her to study with Bernardino Campi and meet Michelangelo in Rome. She became court painter to King Philip II of Spain and confidant to Queen Elisabeth of Valois.
An inspiring legacy for future generations.
After a polite but unhappy marriage, Sofonisba found love with sea captain Orazio Lomellino, spending her final years in Genoa. Even Anthony van Dyck praised her, calling her one of his greatest teachers.
Sofonisba Anguissola’s life was nothing short of extraordinary—a woman ahead of her time who lived into her 90s, mingled with kings, queens, and dukes, and even defied convention by running off with a dashing sea captain. She followed her heart and her dreams, carving out a legacy as a painter of immense talent and respect in a male-dominated world. Sofonisba’s story is one of courage, passion, and artistic brilliance—an inspiration for generations to come. Dive into her fascinating life and discover the incredible journey of a woman who truly lived life on her own terms!
Read the novel that was inspired by the real life adventures of Sofonisba Anguissola!
The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola
Set in the sixteenth-century, The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola tells the story of a woman’s passion for painting and adventure. In a world where women painters had little to no acknowledgment, she was singled out by Michelangelo and Vasari who recognized and praised her talent. Gaining the Milanese elite’s acclaim, she went on to become court painter to Spanish King Philip II and taught his queen to paint. One can’t live such an extraordinary life without having stories to tell, and tell them Sofonisba does to Sir Anthony Van Dyke, who comes to visit her toward the end of her life. During their meeting, she agrees to reveal her secrets but first challenges the younger painter to find the one lie hidden in her tale. In a saga filled with intrigue, jealousy, buried treasure, unrequited love, espionage, and murder, Sofonisba’s story is played out against the backdrop of Italy, Spain, and Sicily. Throughout her life, she encounters talented artists, authoritative dukes, mad princes, religious kings, spying queens, vivacious viscounts, and dashing sea captains—even a Barbary pirate. But of all the people who fell in love with Sofonisba, only one captured her heart. The painter may have many secrets but the truth of her life is crystal clear from the beginning. Always a strong, passionate woman with a dream, she was an intelligent artist who knew her self-worth and in the end, as Michelangelo had done for her, Sofonisba passed her brush to a new generation.
