old master drawings - Museum of Fine Arts - Florida State University

Angelica Kauffmann(1741-1807)SwissAngelica Kauffmann was born in Switzerland and grew up in Austria,where her family originated. Her father Johann was a poor man and amediocre painter but successfully taught Angelica to be an amazing painter.By the time she was 12, Angelica had completed aportrait of a bishop named Monsignor Nevroni, andshe started to make a name for herself. In 1754, herfather took her on a trip to Milan, a first of manytrips to Italy for Angelica. It was here in Italy whereAngelica became famous, especially for her portraits.Recognition of her accomplishments earned Angelicaelection into Rome’s Academy of St. Luke in 1765.In 1766, Angelica accompanied LadyWentworth to England, where her portraits became agreat success. She painted subjects, with inspirationfrom English romantic literature, for example, fromthe poetry of Alexander Pope. She also did a fewAngelica Kauffman, Self-Portrait,1780-85, oil on canvas, TheHermitage, St. Petersburg,until 1781 and became the first woman inEngland to be admitted to the Royal Academy,an institution for the advancement of art. In1781 she married for the second time andreturned to Italy with her husband.classical paintings such as scenes from Homer’sOdyssey. Angelicalived in LondonFrom 1781-1807, Angelica lived andworked in Rome in the most famous studio inthe city which was also a meeting place forpoets, artists, and thinkers of the day. After atrip to Venice in 1781, Angelica painted one ofher most famous works, Leonardo da Vincidying in the Arms of Francis I. This was Angelica Kauffmann, Juno Borrowing theCestus of Venus, 1776-1777, drawing,followed by many more works with theJohn and Mable Ringling Museum ofacademy and her last exhibit was in 1797. Art.Angelica died in Rome in 1807 and washonored with a grand funeral directed by prominent sculptor Antonio Canova,who based it on the funeral of Raphael, in which the entire Academy of St.Luke and many people of the clergy attended.Artist Biographies Page 16