Finally, after 400 years, the world is ready for their close-ups. Two Renaissance women—the painters Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana—are the subjects of a revelatory exhibition at the Museo del Prado. During a time of entrenched gender norms, Anguissola managed to impress none other than Michelangelo and also influenced both Caravaggio and Anthony van Dyck. Fontana, meanwhile, was the first woman to support herself and her family through her art. Helpfully, her husband raised their 11 children. —J.V.

A Tale of Two Women Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana was featured in the October 19, 2019 issue of Air Mail. Read on