Sofonisba Anguissola, The Chess Game, 1555. Lucia (left), Minerva (right) and Europa (middle) Anguissola playing chess. The National Museum in Poznań, Poland. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The life and inspiring works of the artist who gives her name to your room: 2: Sofonisba Anguissola***

This delightful family portrait, of her three younger sisters playing chess, was painted in 1555 by Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1532-1625). It captures their youthful vitality and keeps them ‘alive’ after more than 450 years. The personality of each of the sisters shines out, particularly the youngest, Europa, in the centre.

Sofonisba and Artemisia – pioneering Women in Art

Sofonisba, who was 23 years old when she painted that picture, is the second female Italian artist to give her name to one of our Watermill bedrooms. The other is Artemisia Gentileschi, who in recent years has become something of a feminist icon. But, if anyone can be thought of as such, it is Sofonisba, who succeeded in an almost exclusively male milieu by being appointed Court Painter to Philip II of Spain (he of the Armada). Philip was ruler of much else of Europe, too, and here he is, looking rather pleased with himself, in Sofonisba’s 1573 portrait (below).

Sofonisba Anguissola, Philip II of Spain. 1565. Museo del Prado, Madrid. Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

A feminist statement in paint

Sofonisba even managed to make an unmistakably feminist point all those centuries ago, in this ‘self-portrait’, painted in 1559 (below). Anguissola certainly painted all of the picture, including herself, but it is intrinsically of a man (her teacher Bernardino Campi), painting her.

Sofonisba Anguissola, Bernardino Campi painting Sofonisba Anguissola. 1559. Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena. Web Gallery of Art. Public domain.

She was making an ironic point, as a woman rebel in a man’s world. Art historian Nina Relf wrote recently in the DailyArt online magazine:“Anguissola is the creator. However, within the scene, the painter we can see is Campi. The painting provides a commentary on gender roles assigned throughout art history – the male as the creator, and the female as the subject. Here, Anguissola breaks the rules and reverses these roles … a strong and independent woman, Sofonisba decided to fulfil her ambition of becoming an artist.”

In Spain, Sofonisba painted her portraits in the official, formal, court style, a far cry from the spontaneity and informality of the earlier pictures of her family. But it was the example of her success, rather than the style of painting, that inspired a new generation of women to pursue careers as artists.

A life in self-portraits

Sofonisba lived until she was 93, a fine old age for those days, and like Rembrandt, she painted self-portraits throughout her life. Hers, too, provide an unflinching testimony on the ageing process, as can be seen in the self-portrait (below) of 1610, when she was 78.

Sofonisba Anguissola. Self-portrait. 1610. Unknown source. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

On the other hand, memories of her sister Europa, in The Chess Game, remain locked in youthful time.

Sofonisba Anguissola, The Chess Game, 1555 (Detail),  Europa Anguissola. The National Museum in Poznań, Poland. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

*** Who wants a number on the bedroom door when they could be staying in Botticelli, Bronzino or Brunelleschi? Or Gentileschi, Ghirlandaio or Ghiberti? Or one of another half-dozen famous Italian artists, from Alberti to Vasari?

Some years ago, we decided to switch from numbers to names in each of our rooms. They celebrate famous Italian artists, mainly from the Renaissance and mainly men, because (a) the early Renaissance is our favourite artistic period and (b) because few women were painting professionally in those days, and even fewer have become famous.

At Lois’ insistence we included Artemesia Gentileschi on our list a few years ago, and in 2026 we introduced Sofonisba Anguissola, despite her tongue-twisting name.