Friday lates: Women artists of the Renaissance - Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana
An introduction to the life, art and career of Italian Renaissance artists Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana. We’ll explore notions of artistic identity and the distinct challenges faced by woman artists in amale-dominated art world.
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In the sixteenth century, when women were largely excluded from professional artistic circles, Sofonisba Anguissola (c.1532-1625) and Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) defied expectations and gained international recognition for their work.
Born in Cremona, Northern Italy, Anguissola became known for her psychologically insightful portraits and secured a position at the Spanish court, despite having limited access to formal artistic training. Fontana, based in Bologna, successfully balanced public commissions with private devotional works and is recognised as Italy’s first professional female artist. Although their careers followed different paths, both artists found ways to establish themselves in a male-dominated profession.
This course will examine four artworks-two by each artist-as a starting point to explore their individual approaches to painting, the distinct paths they took in their careers, and how they each navigated the challenges of working as women in a male-dominated art world. The session will consider both their artistic output and their personal stories, providing a broader understanding of how they shaped their identities and made significant contributions to Renaissance art.
What will we cover?
A brief historical overview of women’s roles in the arts during the Renaissance
A focused look at four paintings-two by Anguissola and two by Fontana
A discussion of self-portraiture, artistic identity and how these artists challenged gender norms
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Describe key features of Anguissola’s and Fontana’s painting styles
Identify how their careers reflected and resisted the gender expectations of their time
Discuss how self-portraiture functioned as a strategy of self-promotion and creative expression
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and basic elements of Zoom software such as microphone, camera and chat function. If you are new to online learning, please have a look at our help pages click here.
Please note: this is a live lecture and will not be recorded for reasons of copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lecture and slide presentations. You will be invited to participate in group discussion and ask questions during the session.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You may wish to bring a notebook and writing tool to take notes.
Elisa Stafferini is an art historian specialising in Renaissance and early modern Italian art. She recently completed her PhD at the Warburg Institute with a thesis entitled Women in Arms: Female Warriors in Italian Art, 1500–1700. She holds a BA and an MA summa cum laude from La Sapienza Università di Roma. Elisa has held research appointments at the University of Oxford, at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (KHI), and at the Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS) in Pisa. Her research interests encompass early modern visual culture, iconography and iconology, gender and politics in art, and the relationship between word and image. She has delivered lectures on Renaissance art and iconography in both Italy and the UK and currently teaches the module “Art in London before 1600” at University College London.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/friday-lates-women-artists-of-the-renaissance-sofonisba-anguissola-and-lavinia-fontana3047008Friday lates: Women artists of the Renaissance - Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontanahttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb268-1080_2.jpg1919GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Online courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Summer courses in humanities22851136117717311889135721228511771136165313457<p>An introduction to the life, art and career of Italian Renaissance artists Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana. We’ll explore notions of artistic identity and the distinct challenges faced by woman artists in amale-dominated art world.</p>003046918Friday lates: Women artists of the Renaissance - Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana1919https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb268-1080_2_1.jpgInStockEveningFriOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-06-19T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB2681919Friday lates: Women artists of the Renaissance - Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana151219Elisa Stafferinifriday-lates-women-artists-of-the-renaissance-sofonisba-anguissola-and-lavinia-fontana/vb268-2526<p>An introduction to the life, art and career of Italian Renaissance artists Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana. We’ll explore notions of artistic identity and the distinct challenges faced by woman artists in amale-dominated art world.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-19 00:00:00<p>In the sixteenth century, when women were largely excluded from professional artistic circles, Sofonisba Anguissola (c.1532-1625) and Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) defied expectations and gained international recognition for their work.</p><p>Born in Cremona, Northern Italy, Anguissola became known for her psychologically insightful portraits and secured a position at the Spanish court, despite having limited access to formal artistic training. Fontana, based in Bologna, successfully balanced public commissions with private devotional works and is recognised as Italy’s first professional female artist. Although their careers followed different paths, both artists found ways to establish themselves in a male-dominated profession.</p><p>This course will examine four artworks-two by each artist-as a starting point to explore their individual approaches to painting, the distinct paths they took in their careers, and how they each navigated the challenges of working as women in a male-dominated art world. The session will consider both their artistic output and their personal stories, providing a broader understanding of how they shaped their identities and made significant contributions to Renaissance art.</p><p>An introduction to the life, art and career of Italian Renaissance artists Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana. We’ll explore notions of artistic identity and the distinct challenges faced by woman artists in amale-dominated art world.</p><ul><li><p>A brief historical overview of women’s roles in the arts during the Renaissance</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>A focused look at four paintings-two by Anguissola and two by Fontana</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>A discussion of self-portraiture, artistic identity and how these artists challenged gender norms</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Describe key features of Anguissola’s and Fontana’s painting styles</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Identify how their careers reflected and resisted the gender expectations of their time</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Discuss how self-portraiture functioned as a strategy of self-promotion and creative expression</p></li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and basic elements of Zoom software such as microphone, camera and chat function. If you are new to online learning, please have a look at our help pages click <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11281000258205-Zoom-joining-a-class-Step-by-Step-Guidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture and will not be recorded for reasons of copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.</p><p>You will be taught with lecture and slide presentations. You will be invited to participate in group discussion and ask questions during the session.</p><p>You may wish to bring a notebook and writing tool to take notes.</p><p>Introduction to the Italian Renaissance</p>Art historyEarly modern worldvirtual151912VB268NONEFri19/06/2618:00 - 20:0018:0020:001 session1One-off onlyEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineElisa StafferiniBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-19T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Culture, history & humanities1919Friday lates: Women artists of the Renaissance - Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontanafriday-lates-women-artists-of-the-renaissance-sofonisba-anguissola-and-lavinia-fontana/vb268-2526<p>An introduction to the life, art and career of Italian Renaissance artists Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana. We’ll explore notions of artistic identity and the distinct challenges faced by woman artists in amale-dominated art world.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-19 00:00:00<p>In the sixteenth century, when women were largely excluded from professional artistic circles, Sofonisba Anguissola (c.1532-1625) and Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) defied expectations and gained international recognition for their work.</p><p>Born in Cremona, Northern Italy, Anguissola became known for her psychologically insightful portraits and secured a position at the Spanish court, despite having limited access to formal artistic training. Fontana, based in Bologna, successfully balanced public commissions with private devotional works and is recognised as Italy’s first professional female artist. Although their careers followed different paths, both artists found ways to establish themselves in a male-dominated profession.</p><p>This course will examine four artworks-two by each artist-as a starting point to explore their individual approaches to painting, the distinct paths they took in their careers, and how they each navigated the challenges of working as women in a male-dominated art world. The session will consider both their artistic output and their personal stories, providing a broader understanding of how they shaped their identities and made significant contributions to Renaissance art.</p><p>An introduction to the life, art and career of Italian Renaissance artists Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana. We’ll explore notions of artistic identity and the distinct challenges faced by woman artists in amale-dominated art world.</p><ul><li><p>A brief historical overview of women’s roles in the arts during the Renaissance</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>A focused look at four paintings-two by Anguissola and two by Fontana</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>A discussion of self-portraiture, artistic identity and how these artists challenged gender norms</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Describe key features of Anguissola’s and Fontana’s painting styles</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Identify how their careers reflected and resisted the gender expectations of their time</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Discuss how self-portraiture functioned as a strategy of self-promotion and creative expression</p></li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and basic elements of Zoom software such as microphone, camera and chat function. If you are new to online learning, please have a look at our help pages click <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11281000258205-Zoom-joining-a-class-Step-by-Step-Guidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture and will not be recorded for reasons of copyright, data protection and digital infrastructure.</p><p>You will be taught with lecture and slide presentations. You will be invited to participate in group discussion and ask questions during the session.</p><p>You may wish to bring a notebook and writing tool to take notes.</p><p>Introduction to the Italian Renaissance</p>Art historyEarly modern worldconfigurable
18891136Early modern worldhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/early-modern-world1/2/285/1177/1136/18891/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world
