Why+is+Sofonisba+Anguissola+Famous+?

Why is Sofonisba Anguissola known for ? Sofonisba was best known for her portraits of various famous people. Her talent was evident since an early age when she painted 'Self-Portrait' in 1554. The same year, Anguissola moved to Rome, where she painted people and places. Here she met the greatest Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475-1564) through a friend. The great maestro informally trained her for around a couple of years. Her very important sketch work 'Child Bitten by a Crab' (1555) impressed Michelangelo, which she drew as per the master's request of a crying boy's drawing. He gave her several of his own sketches to mould them in her own drawing style. This helped her learn a lot in developing her own sketch style. The wonderful portraits of her family 'Lucia, Minerva and Europa Anguissola playing chess' (1555) and ' Family Portrait ' (1557-58) further established her competence. In 1558, she traveled to Milan and covered the Duke of Alba. Impressed, the Duke referred her to the King Philip II of Spain (1527-98), who ruled the country from July 1554 until death. Stunned with her work, the King invited Sofonisba in 1559, to join the Spanish Court in Madrid. Definitely a huge elevation, the artist had a successful stint here for eighteen years and covered the Royal Spanish Family. Her portraits of 'Queen Elisabeth of Spain' and 'Prado Phillip II' are her milestone works here. Why is Sofonisba considered to be such an important part of the Renaissance era ? Sofonisba is important to the Renaissance era because she was the first female artist to reach international fame.