Portrait of Elisabeth of Valois explained

Portrait of Elisabeth of Valois is an oil-on-canvas painting executed c.1561–1565 by the Italian artist Sofonisba Anguissola, now in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.^{[1] [2] [3]}

It shows Elisabeth of Valois, third wife of Philip II of Spain.^[4] Its iconography derives from Titian's Portrait of Elizabeth of Portugal, Philip's mother. Elisabeth is shown holding a miniature of Philip in her right hand,^[5] whilst her black clothing testifies to the austerity of the Spanish court at that time.^[6]

References

1. Italian women artists from Renaissance to Baroque, Milano, Skira, 2007
2. Web site: A Tale of Two Women Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana.
3. Web site: Catalogue entry.
4. Flavio Caroli, Sofonisba Anguissola e le sue sorelle, Milano, A. Mondadori, 1987
5. Sofonisba Anguissola e le sue sorelle, Milano, Leonardo Arte, 1994, page 234
6. Giovanna Motta, La Moda contiene la Storia e ce la racconta puntualmente, Edizioni Nuova Cultura, 2015 - 272 pagine.