Femininity's Contribution to The High Renaissance - Sofonisba Anguissola

The divinely talented Sofonisba Anguissola created The Chess Game in 1555. This is truly a masterpiece, especially considering her intricate detail and approximate dimensions on the characters created. Dawned in the height of the High Renaissance, Sofonisba would become one of the first women to create such brilliant and world renowned works of art to be cherished by all, including Michelangelo. Women are not spoke much of, and she definitely deserves recognition on a more mainstream basis. 

Anguissola, Sofonisba. The Chess Game. 1555. Museum Naradowe. Sofonisba Anguissola - The Chess Game.https://favourite-paintings.blogspot.com/2011/03/sofonisba-anguissola-chess-game.html

The chess game is described to be a like cartoon in portrait of her younger sisters, Sofonisba is the eldest of of six, playing what appears to be a game of chess. Off the left of the portrait is believed to be a servant over looking the children. Her art is so precise and organic that you are put in the position to image a young lady behind the canvas, as she overlooks her sisters enjoy a game while being candid for the portrait to come. The chemistry is captured here so immaculately between them, and the artist.

http://web-archives.mansfield.edu/~art/Papyrus2AnnabellaLajuzensofonisba_anguissola_the.htm

                                                  

                                                             Anguissola, Sofonisba. Three Children with Dog. circa 1570-1590. Meisterwerke                                                        der Maleri. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sofonisba_Anguissola_001.jpg

"I must relate... in the house of Sofonisba's father at Cremona, a picture executed by her hand with great diligence, portraits of her three sisters... who appear truly alive... executed so well that they appear to be breathing.." (Vasari, Giorgio 77). The famous Italian artist Giorgio Vasari made a personal trip to the home of which Anguissola, the daughter of a noble family, to see the "marvels" of the six sisters.

Cunningham, Lawrence and John Reich, eds. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities. Vol 2. Wadsworth, 2005.

https://favourite-paintings.blogspot.com/2011/03/sofonisba-anguissola-chess-game.html

Islamic Hues woven in the Renaissance

The Ottoman empire has a very beautiful part in the Renaissance. The Crash Course: The Renaissance, Was It a Thing? video, while trying to persuade against the idea of a Renaissance, really sparked an interest in myself to explore their essence during this time in history. When it comes to art, especially the art of Sandro Botticelli, the hues of bright reds that give that regal vibrancy can be attributed to the Ottoman presence. Especially in the works of art that come out of Florence in the 15th century.

https://youtu.be/Vufba_ZcoR0

Attributed to Botticelli, Portrait of Montefeltro & Landino with a small pattern Holbein carpet /https://hali.com/news/sultans-world-ottoman-orient-renaissance-art/

The text from the Module does not mention the Ottoman empire, however it does talk about Florence being the center of trade of things like wool, and the famous banking families who would have been key in trading with the Ottomans. In fact, without the Ottomans Venice, and probably Italy in general, would not have had the money to even have the Renaissance so strong in all its variety there. Art, written, idealism, construct and drawn, has an influence of Islam with the fancy clothes and mathematical concepts.

Calumny of Apelles, tempera on panel by Sandro Botticelli, 1490s; in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence/

• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sandro-Botticelli/Secular-patronage-and-works#/media/1/75231/116194

..

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sandro-Botticelli/Secular-patronage-and-works
Cunningham, Lawrence and John Reich, eds. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities. Vol 2. Wadsworth, 2005.