Angelica Kauffmann- A talented historical female artist
Angelica Kauffmann is the name in the history of art as a wide role-play female artist. She owned many names and fame in her career and gave many artworks that have high demand. She was the only female artist who fought for equal status and strength before the 20th century by using mythology, allegory & female muses.
She portrayed many arts where she reflected the power of women through goddesses & female mystics. In the earlier days, the female figures were generally painted to illustrate. But in the period of Kauffman, she was influenced to provide equality. Looking master oil paintings of this artist? contact us for commission artwork and paintings
Childhood of Angelica Kauffmann
Angelica Kauffman was born in the year 1741, on October 30. Her parents Cleophea, née Luz, and Josef Kauffman were painters. She came from a very noble family and enjoyed her childhood days. She was known among many people as the daughter of Josef Kauffman but wanted to know her name and identity among people. She wanted to become a highly cultured hostess as well as an artist in European society.
She spent her childhood in Graubünden and its surrounding areas. Due to her father's work, she moved to many places one after another. When she became 16, her father decided to leave Switzerland and the family and moved to Austria in 1755, where she shaped her dreams and planned for her future. She learned a lot from her environment and was dedicated to the art. That was the turning era of her career that made her an international sensation.
Her parents recognized her talents and interest at an earlier age, and they fully supported her dreams. As she belonged to a supportive family, she enjoyed his teenage and gained rich quality education compared to the other girls in that period. From speaking in multiple languages from English to French and Italian to German from her mother, she was a very talented girl until having a keen interest in signing. Her father took her to the priest out of the great concern and asked which career would suit her best.
Early Training and Work
Angelica Kauffman's mother died in 1757, post which she moved to her birthplace along with her father. Later, Angelica assisted her father in completing a fresco painting that was a great opportunity in her life compared to her earlier age. They both worked together and received many commission works. At the age of 20, she became the only earner for her family. After the death of Angelica's mother, Johann completely gave his all-time to trained Angelica within 1762 and 1764.
This duo received much appreciation and traveled to many cities to learn and to improve their style. They visited Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan, and other cities in Italy and spent hours in the art galleries to watch the detailing of old painters. These things played a wider role in the life of Kauffman to learn the Renaissance. She practiced 17th-century drawing to build her presence in the world of male artists.
In the year 1762, she was assigned as an honorary member of the Accademia Clementina di Bologna. Later she joined many organizations and worked with the royal courts of both Parma and Florence, where she got commissioned for producing historical paintings and portraits.
Mature Period of Angelica Kauffmann
Kauffmann met with Lady Bridget Wentworth Murray while traveling to Italy, moved to London, and remained for the next 15 years. Here she met with the famous painter Joshua Reynolds and both became friends. She had a studio where King George's III mother & Augusta Princess of Wales visited and purchased artwork. This portrait was widely praised by the local people and got her more work.
Later she married Frederick de Horn in 1767, and as per the rumors, she married to stay in England. But later, she got out of this and received continuous fame and growth. Later she became the female co-founders of the Royal Academy in 1768 and got exhibited there from 1769 to 1790s. Along with the historical paintings, Kauffman also painted the philosophers, politicians, poets, actors, and friends.
Undoubtedly, gender remained an obstacle those days, and her career was not smooth, but she fought against all odds and emerged as an inspiration. She got married for the second time to Venetian painter Antonio Zucchi. She produced paintings from the novels of Alexander Pope and influenced Neoclassicist art.
Throughout her career, she enjoyed her independence physically and financially. She had unquestionable skills. As per the reports, in her 15th year of career, she had a net worth of around £14,000, which was an enormous sum at the time.
Later years
In the later years, she was considered as the well-known and established cultivated Woman in Europe. She continued her work in the early 1800s. Meanwhile, she received much appreciation and became the hot news everywhere. She died on the year 1807, November 5. Her friend prepared her funeral, which was considered the greatest organized funeral for a painter in Rome. As a mark of respect, two paintings were even carried alongside the procession that defined Kauffmann's early and later works.
The Legacy of Angelica Kauffman
Kauffmann is considered one of the greatest painters who earned a long-lasting legacy. In her whole lifetime, she earned a lot of money, fame, and respect that she wanted from her childhood. She was one of the highest-paid artists. Because of this, a lot of biographies were written on her.
Undoubtedly she was a skilled painter as well as an excellent businesswoman. She was a woman who made revolutionary changes in art and went against all the gender stereotypes of her time.