CHAPTER IV.

THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

The six wonderful Sisters.--Sofonisba Anguisciola.--Her early Sketches.--Painting of three Sisters.--Her Success in Milan.--Invitation to the Court of Madrid.--Pomp of her Journey and Reception.--The Diamond.--Paints the Royal Family and the Flower of the Nobility.--Her Present to Pope Pius.--His Letter.--Her Style.--Lucia’s Picture.--Sofonisba Governess to the Infanta. Marriage to the Lord of Sicily.--His Death at Palermo.--The Widow’s Voyage.--The gallant Captain.--Second Love and Marriage.--Her Residence at Genoa.--Royal Visitors.--Loss of Sight.--Vandyck her Guest.--Her Influence on Art in Genoa.--Her Portrait and Works.--Sofonisba Gentilesca.--Her Miniatures of the Spanish Royal Family.--Caterina Cantoni.--Ludovica Pellegrini.--Angela Criscuolo.--Cecilia Brusasorci.--Caterina dei Pazzi.--Her Style shows the Infusion of a new Element of religious Enthusiasm into Art.--Tradition of her painting with eyes closed.--Her Canonization.--Women in France at this period.--Isabella Quatrepomme.--Women in Spain.--A female Doctor of Theology.--Change wrought by Protestantism in the Condition of Woman.--Its Influence on Art.--An English Paintress.--Lavinia Benic.--Catherine Schwartz in Germany.--Eva von Iberg in Switzerland.--Women Painters in the Netherlands.--Female Talent in Antwerp.--Albert Durer’s Mention of Susannah Gerard.--Catherine Hämsen.--Anna Seghers.--Clara de Keyzer.--Liewina Bennings’ and Susannah Hurembout’s Visits to England.--The Engraver Barbara.--The Dutch Engraver.--Constantia, the Flower Painter. 48