A remarkable rediscovery has taken place in North Carolina with the emergence of a lost masterpiece by Sofonisba Anguissola, the most renowned female artist of the Renaissance. This incredible journey began in 1920, when a black-and-white photograph of her painting, “Portrait of a Canon Regular,” was captured before it mysteriously vanished from public knowledge.
Fast forward 104 years, art historian Michael Cole delivered an engaging lecture about Anguissola, sharing her extraordinary contributions to art. After posting the lecture on YouTube, two art collectors in Durham, North Carolina, stumbled upon it and were inspired to investigate the possibility that they owned one of her works. Excited by the idea, they reached out to Cole, inviting him to visit their collection for a closer examination.
Upon his visit, Cole confirmed that the painting in question was indeed “Portrait of a Canon Regular,” a stunning piece created by Anguissola at the tender age of 20. This artwork beautifully portrays a priest delivering a sermon from the Gospel according to St. John, complete with a symbolic haloed eagle, representing St. John, hovering over the figure’s shoulder.
For those unfamiliar with Sofonisba Anguissola, it’s important to highlight the words of Giorgio Vasari, a prominent 16th-century artist and biographer, who praised her talents: “[Anguissola] worked with deeper study and greater grace than any woman of our times at problems of design.” He acknowledged her exceptional abilities in drawing, painting, and reproducing works from nature, while also creating some truly rare and beautiful pieces on her own.
Born into nobility in Cremona, Italy, Anguissola was encouraged by her father to pursue her passion for painting and drawing from a young age. She quickly gained recognition for her lifelike portraits, which led to a prestigious commission as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elisabeth of Spain. At the Spanish court, she produced numerous portraits of the royal family and taught the arts to the royal children. One of her most famous works, a striking portrayal of Philip II, now resides in the Prado Museum.
Later in life, Anguissola married Orazio Lomellino, the brother of the Viceroy of Sicily, and their bond lasted a lifetime. She lived on the beautiful island of Sicily until the remarkable age of 93, leaving behind a legacy that her husband honored with a heartfelt inscription on her tomb: “To Sofonisba, my wife, who is recorded among the illustrious women of the world, outstanding in portraying the images of man.”
The “Portrait of a Canon Regular,” created by Anguissola in 1552, recently made its debut at the Winter Show, an art fair held at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, where it was available for sale at the impressive price of half a million dollars. This rediscovery not only celebrates Anguissola’s extraordinary talent but also shines a light on the enduring legacy of women in art throughout history.
