Bacchanalians (1786)

Angelica Kauffman prints bring the grace and calm of Neoclassical painting into your home. Kauffman was a Swiss painter with a celebrated career in London and Rome, and one of only two women among the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768. This collection gathers art prints of her scenes from Homer, Virgil and Shakespeare, her elegant portraits, allegories and decorative designs, and her studies of figures.

About Angelica Kauffman

Angelica Kauffman was born in Chur, Switzerland, on 30 October 1741, the daughter of a muralist who trained her as his assistant. A child prodigy who spoke four languages and was also a gifted singer, she chose painting over music and was painting bishops and nobles by the age of twelve.

She traveled widely in Italy, studying the old masters in Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples, Bologna and Venice, and in Rome painted the scholar Johann Joachim Winckelmann. In 1766 she moved to London, where Sir Joshua Reynolds became her firmest friend, and in 1768 she and Mary Moser were the only women among the founding members of the Royal Academy.

In 1781 she married the Venetian painter Antonio Zucchi and the couple settled in Rome, where her studio became a meeting place for artists and writers, including Goethe. She continued to exhibit at the Royal Academy until 1797. She died in Rome on 5 November 1807, and her funeral, designed by the sculptor Antonio Canova, was modeled on that of Raphael.

Style and Subjects

Kauffman was above all a history painter, a demanding field rarely open to women at the time. She took her subjects from classical myth, ancient history, Homer, Virgil and Shakespeare, often choosing moments of feeling rather than action, such as Ariadne abandoned on the shore or Telemachus mourning.

Her style is graceful and Neoclassical, with gentle figures, flowing drapery, soft color and calm, balanced compositions. She was also a much sought-after portrait painter and designed decorative paintings for interiors by the architect Robert Adam.

Famous Works

• Portrait of Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1764), Kunsthaus Zürich. The great scholar of classical art, painted in Rome.
• Ariadne Abandoned by Theseus (1774), Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Ariadne weeps on the shore as Theseus sails away.
• Sappho Inspired by Love (1775), John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota. The poet with Cupid at her side.
• Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso (1782), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Odysseus's son entertained by the nymphs.
• The Sorrow of Telemachus (1783), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Telemachus weeps at a song about his father.
• Self-Portrait (1784), Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munich. The artist with her drawing materials.
• Virgil Reading the Aeneid to Augustus and Octavia (1788), Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. A moving scene from Roman history.

Decorating with Kauffman Prints

Kauffman's graceful mythological scenes suit a living room, bedroom or dining room in a classic or Georgian style. Their soft pinks, sky blues and creamy whites look elegant in gilt or white frames, and pair well with pale walls and classical details.

Her portraits suit a hallway or study, and her decorative allegories and figure studies make a refined gallery wall for a dressing room or reading corner.

FAQ

What art movement was Angelica Kauffman part of?

Kauffman was a leading painter of Neoclassicism, the 18th-century style inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art. She was primarily a history painter as well as a portraitist.

What is Angelica Kauffman's most famous painting?

Ariadne Abandoned by Theseus (1774) and her scenes of Telemachus in the Metropolitan Museum of Art are among her best-known works, along with her self-portraits.

Where can I see Kauffman's original paintings?

Her work is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Hermitage, the Uffizi, the Kunsthaus Zürich, the Bavarian State Painting Collections, the Royal Academy in London and many British country houses.

How can you recognize an Angelica Kauffman painting?

Look for graceful classical figures in flowing drapery, gentle expressions, soft pastel colors and calm, balanced compositions, often showing moments of quiet emotion.

Why is Angelica Kauffman important?

She was one of only two women among the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768 and built an international career as a history painter, a field almost closed to women in her time.

Related Artists

• Antonio Zucchi — Venetian painter and decorator who became her husband
• Sir Joshua Reynolds — her firmest friend in London
• Benjamin West — fellow founder of the Royal Academy and history painter
• Anton Raphael Mengs — leading Neoclassical painter in Rome
• Pompeo Batoni — Rome's leading painter during her stays in the city