Fair-bearded man in a tall black hat, white lace ruff and buttoned black suit, one hand on a red chair

Philip II

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What you see

Philip II is shown three-quarter length, seated, his body turned slightly and his eyes on us. He wears a tall black velvet hat, a white lace ruff and a black suit with a long row of buttons under a cape. One hand rests on the arm of a red chair; the other sits at his waist.

Everything is black and grey, which makes his pale face, light eyes and the white lace at his collar and cuffs stand out. The light is soft and even. Watch for the small gold pendant hanging from a cord on his chest, the sword hilt at lower right and the number 288 in the corner.

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.

All 12 works by Sofonisba Anguissola

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