Carol Damioli

One Italian Renaissance painter created stunning portraits of warmth and sensitivity, caught Michelangelo's favourable attention, served the most powerful monarch of the time, and achieved international renown. But that artist fell into obscurity for one reason – she was a woman. Sofonisba Anguissola's abilities as a painter, evident while still in her mid-teens, combined with her father's promotional efforts, made her well known in her native