Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) settled in Rome in 1782, having already established herself as one of the 18th century’s best-regarded artists.
In 1768 she had become a founding member of the new Royal Academy of Arts in London; with Mary Moser she was one of only two women RAs until the 20th century.
In the Eternal City she became a leading portraitist of well-to-do visitors passing through as part of their Grand Tour.
Famous for her treatment of stories with female protagonists, instead of vignettes from Scripture Kauffman preferred to look to the classics for much of her inspiration, including the tales of the Classical muses. She often painted women in these settings, including Emma, Lady Hamilton (Horatio Nelson’s famous mistress, and the mother of his daughter, Horatia) as Comedy. Among her output were also several self-portraits.
