Snow and Sofonisba

This week has been a mix of painting, walking and reading by the fire. Snow has arrived in the Apennines. For inspiration I’ve been researching the works of Sofonisba Anguissola, one of a small group of Italian women painters of the late Renaissance. Sofonisba was sufficiently successful to be included in Giorgio Vasari’s ‘Lives of the Artists’ and was a favourite of the Spanish royal family. I’ve been looking at her portraits to deepen my appreciation of the painting of the drape and fold of cloth and the implied contours of the body beneath it.

Clockwise from top left:

Portrait of Bianca Anguissola, the artists mother, detail, 1557, Gemaldegalerie, Berlin

Portrait of Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma, detail, 1560, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin

Portrait of a Young Lady, detail, 1580, Museo Lazaro Galdiano, Spain

Portrait of Giuliano Cesarini, detail, 1586, private collection.

Held

I love the bold attitude of this pose and it’s very topologically pleasing. Working again with the artist Ruaidhri Ryan as photographic model, as part of the same series that produced my Royal Academy Summer Exhibition work, ‘A Sense of Touch’.

Acrylic on 8mm plywood board
42 cm w x 35.5cm x 8mm
2023

Lavish

Painted in January 2023, as part of the same series that produced my Royal Academy Summer Exhibition work, ‘A Sense of Touch’. The straight lines of the background add contrast to the sensual and lively brush strokes that find equivalence for the fabric.

Acrylic on 6mm plywood board

30cm x 36cm

2023

Red Collar

Painted in July 2023 using the artist Vikki Drew as photographic model, wearing her gorgeous Vivienne Westwood shirt. It is part of the same series which produced ‘A Sense of Touch’, in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. The hand gestures create tension and movement in the energetically painted movement of fabric.

Acrylic on 8mm wooden panel

42cm x 35.5cm

2023

Orange Cuff

Painted in July 2023 using the artist Ruaidhri Ryan as photographic model, as part of the same series that produced my Royal Academy Summer Exhibition work, ‘A Sense of Touch’. Energetic brush strokes find equivalence for the soft movement of fabric, aided by the delicate, open gesture.

Acrylic on 8mm wooden panel

42cm x 35.5cm

2023

You can find more available works on the shop page.

I’m going to some events at the London Art Week next week and will let you know more about that.

Have a good week.

Fiona