Angelica Kauffmann
Angelica Kauffmann
Angelica Kauffmann (October 30, 1741 – November 5, 1807) was a Swiss-Austrian Neoclassical painter.
She was born at Chur in Graubünden, Switzerland, but grew up in Schwarzenberg in Vorarlberg/Austria where her family originated.
Her father, Joseph Johann Kauffmann, was a relatively poor man but a skilled painter that was often traveling around for his works. He was apparently very successful in teaching his precocious daughter.
She rapidly acquired several languages from her mother Cleophea Lutz, read incessantly, and showed marked talents as a musician.
In 1754 her father took her to Milan. Later visits to Italy of long duration followed: in 1763 she visited Rome, returning again in 1764. From Rome she passed to Bologna and Venice, being everywhere feted and caressed, as much for her talents as for her personal charms.
While at Venice, she was induced by Lady Wentworth, the wife of the ambassador, to accompany her to London. One of her first works was a portrait of David Garrick, exhibited in the year of her arrival at “Mr Moreing’s great room in Maiden Lane.”
The rank of Lady Wentworth opened society to her, and she was everywhere well received, the royal family especially showing her great favor.
Kauffmann’s strength was her work in history painting, the most elite and lucrative category in academic painting during the 18th century. Under the direction of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Academy made a strong effort to promote history painting to a native audience who were more interested in commissioning and buying portraits and landscapes.
Self-portrait, 1785
Oil on canvas, 76.5 x 63 cm.
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia ▼
Hector calls Paris to the battle, 1775
Oil on canvas, 137 x 178 cm,
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia ▼
The farewell of Abelard and Héloïse, 1780
Oil on canvas, 65.6 x 65.5 cm,
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia ▼
Lady Elizabeth Foster, 1784
Oil on canvas,
Ickworth House, Suffolk, UK ▼
Portrait of Countess A. S. Protasova with her nieces, 1788
Oil on canvas, 123 x 159 cm,
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia ▼
Self-portrait hesitating between the arts of music and painting, 1791
Oil on canvas,
147 x 216 cm, Private collection ▼
Insane Mary
Oil on canvas, 65.5 x 65.5 cm,
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia ▼
Venus persuades Helen to fall in love with Paris
Oil on canvas, 102 x 127.5 cm,
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia ▼
One Response to “Angelica Kauffmann”
By Heimar Eggert on Sep 11, 2010 | Reply
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with
your blog.