Arcadópolis
Elisabeth of Valois Holding a Portrait of Philip II
Sofonisba Anguissola, c. 1561–1565
What you see
Elisabeth of Valois stands full-length, turned slightly. One hand, resting on a pedestal, holds a tiny portrait; the other lets a long white ribbon fall. She looks at us calmly. On the left rises a column of red and white marble, and the rest of the background is dark.
Her black gown is lined from top to bottom with gold ornaments set with red stones, like small bows in a row. Its open sleeves reveal undersleeves striped in gold and white. Notice the jeweled headdress, the lace ruff and the belt of gold links falling on a diagonal.
About Sofonisba Anguissola
Sofonisba Anguissola was born in Cremona into a noble family whose father wanted all six of his daughters to study art and letters, something very rare at the time. She painted her sisters playing, laughing and posing, and made so many self-portraits that her face was one of the best known of her age. She was painter and lady-in-waiting at the court of Philip II in Madrid and lived past ninety; in her old age the young Anthony van Dyck visited her in Palermo and drew her.
More by Sofonisba Anguissola
The Chess Game
Self-Portrait at the Easel
Self-Portrait with a Book
Miniature Self-Portrait
Portrait of Her Father Amilcare with Minerva and Asdrubale
Boy Bitten by a Crayfish
Portrait of Minerva Anguissola
Portrait of the Marquess Massimiliano Stampa
Philip II
Self-Portrait
Juana of Austria with a Young Girl
The Arcadópolis Museum has 443 public-domain works in 40 rooms, free to explore in 3D in your browser.