Angelica Kauffman: A Woman of Immense Talent

On the two-hundredth anniversary of the death of an exceptional artist: an up-to-date and comprehensive monograph of the life and works of Angelica Kauffman.

In her day, Angelica Kauffman (1741–1807) was a star throughout all of Europe. Royalty, famous poets, and philosophers flocked to her to have their portraits painted. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called her a “woman of immense talent” - he reserved the word genius for men, an attitude against which the artist fought her entire life. Her self-confidence helped her succeed in a male-dominated world.

In this monograph, close to 150 key works - including self-portraits, portraits, allegories, historical paintings, and religious depictions - impressively pay homage to the life and work of Angelica Kauffman. This publication focuses on her art in the context of her personal history and the places where she spent her cosmopolitan life. Using this approach, the authors also touch on the intriguing question of the relevance of this exceptional female artist today.