Paintings portray various messages and have also been used to depict the emotional state of the environment or the artist. In the Renaissance and post-Renaissance period artwork was dominated by men and just a few women managed to stamp their authority in this profession. However, among the few we female painters during this era, Anguissola commanded most respect for her substantial contribution to the artwork. This paper provides both a descriptive analysis of one of the portraits made by Anguissola and historical and gender interpretation to the painting Sisters Playing Chess.
Descriptive Analysis
In the picture, Anguissola portrays her three younger sisters; Lucia, Minerva and Europa and the maid (Garrard 556). The two older girls Lucia and Minerva are playing the game of chess and Lucia has already taken out two of Minerva’s pieces from the chessboard indicating her expertise and mastery of the game. She intends to take the queen piece as shown by the movement of the hand movements. Lucia looks at Anguissola to the left with a smile while Minerva opens her mouth with the hand raised as if she wants to say something. The youngest Europa looks at the pair playing and smiles an indication that she enjoys the proceeding as the maid also stares from the right.
The painting shows a sense of family unity and happiness depicted by the enthusiasm of the sister's faces (Garrard 556). The characters come from a wealthy background considering the type of clothes they are wearing which are full of royalty and the fact that there is someone apart from their mother taking care of the siblings (Jacobs, Ferino-Pagden and Kusche 45). The tablecloth is also made of an expensive material an indication of the high economic status of the family. However, although all the other aspects of the painting are real, there is also an element of fiction considering that Cremona is far from any hill or mountain and therefore the mountain on the background of the painting is imaginary (Garrard 556). Finally, the images also depict that this family is capable of entertaining itself through games. However, it is something out of the standard cultural norm of the Renaissance period to see women playing chess which was a preserve for the men (Garrard 556). Moreover, the fact that this game is performed in the family backyard indicates instead of a tavern, or any public joint makes the painting unique.
Anguissola's Sisters Playing Chess
Source: https://i.pinimg.com/236x/1d/d5/e7/1dd5e732d9356d9bd749f07317c48874.jpg
Historical and Gender Interpretation
Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625) was a renowned Italian Renaissance painter who rose above the cultural dictates to establish herself as one of the best-known artists in the world history. His popularity, however, stems from the informal paintings she made based primarily on the family. Majority of her art were either personal or for the family members like the sisters playing chess ("Life and Works of Sofonisba Anguissola, Noblewoman, Portraitist of Philip II"). During the Renaissance period, women were not allowed to study artwork or anatomy which was a preserve for the men. However, Sofonisba Anguissola studied her artwork with people like Bernardino Campi and Bernardino Gatti (Garrard 556). For many years, girls were not allowed to explore the naked form of a human, but Anguissola went against this belief to actively participate in painting even though she did this privately within the confines of their home.
During the Renaissance time, Italian paintings were ordinarily formal and stiff, only presenting what the culture dictates. Nevertheless, Anguissola decided to paint her sister in the formal dressing but free expressions (Jacobs, Ferino-Pagden and Kusche 45). This was against the norms, but she did it anyway to protest against the rigid rules and wanted to make images that portray people for what they are and not for what they would like to be seen. This neutrality is the most intriguing aspect of the picture (Fajardo-Hill and Guerrero 133).
The game of chess being played by the women in the painting is symbolic depicting the intellect of the females in the society. Chess is a game of logic that requires critical thinking which was only associated with the male members of the community ("Life and Works of Sofonisba Anguissola, Noblewoman, Portraitist of Philip II"). The fact the women are young further represents the ability of the girls to learn various skills and therefore women also has a role to play in the society (Fajardo-Hill and Guerrero 133). A queen is a very powerful pawn in the game of chess and therefore as Lucia takes the piece from Minerva shows that females are ready to take over their rightful positions in the society. Gender is not a limitation but is just used to create a notion that women cannot undertake certain chores in the community. (Jacobs, Ferino-Pagden and Kusche 45) Anyone viewing this portrait will observe that Anguissola has captured that the vitality and personality of her sisters. The gaze in the images is clear evidence that the young ladies admire their artist sister and take her as their role model. The humor in the portrait is an indication of family love, and the fact the Anguissola chooses to include her three sisters in the image is another aspect of family unity (Garrard 556).
Despite that, the other sisters were also painters; Anguissola emerged as an international figure in the field. Her professional prowess was even recognized by the famous artist Giorgio Vasari stating that;
"Anguissola has shown greater application and better grace than any other woman of our age in her endeavors at drawing; she has thus succeeded not only in drawing, coloring, and painting from nature, and copying excellently from others, but by herself has created rare and stunning paintings."
Such confession from a renowned artist of the Renaissance period shows how proficient Anguissola was at her work. Finally, it is imperative to appreciate the role played by women of courage such as that of Anguissola that has made them rise above cultural beliefs (Fajardo-Hill and Guerrero 133). The history will remember the contributions to the field of art and knowledge acquisition.
Conclusion
In summary, it is evident that the portrait “sisters are playing chess game”
is not only a famous piece but also a highly educative one. It depicts various themes like the position of women in the society, their intellectual abilities and family love unity. The fact that women are the ones playing the game of chess which is traditionally associated with the men is depicting the change in the society. As much as a female in the community has not attained freedom, they are moving towards such accomplishment. Anguissola raises above all the social believes to prosper in the profession despite the challenges and restrictions. She brings in a unique element in the Renaissance art by creating an informal painting full of natural components. It is therefore paramount to conclude that given the opportunity, women can play a vital in societal development.
Works Cited
Fajardo-Hill, Cecilia, and Marcela Guerrero. "Latina Art Through The Exhibition Lens: Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960-1985." Diálogo 20.1 (2017): 133-140. Web.
Garrard, Mary D. "Here's Looking At Me: Sofonisba Anguissola and the Problem of the Woman Artist." Renaissance Quarterly 47.3 (1994): 556-622. Web.
Jacobs, Fredrika, Sylvia Ferino-Pagden, and Maria Kusche. "Sofonisba Anguissola, a Renaissance Woman." Woman's Art Journal 17.1 (1996): 45. Web.
"Life and Works of Sofonisba Anguissola, Noblewoman, Portraitist of Philip II." Owlcation. N.P., 2018. Web. 5 Mar. 2018.
