The Female Raphael of the Arts | Angelica Kauffman Works to Sell

Angelica Kauffman was one of the most internationally celebrated artists of the 18^th century. 'Miss Angel', as she was known, was highly skilled and versatile, producing history paintings, portraits, landscapes and decorations for aristocratic clients and royalty throughout Europe.

Born in Chur, Switzerland, to the artist Josef Kauffman, she was a prodigious talent in both art as well as music. She conquered Italy, France, Poland, Russia and also Great Britain enjoying the illustrious patronage of Catherine the Great, Maria Carolina of Naples and Joseph II of Austria among others.

^{Angelica Kauffman, RA (Swiss, 1740-1807) | Portrait of Louise Henrietta Campbell (1772-1829), seated full-length, in a white dress holding a pencil and drawing, oil on canvas, 74 x 61cm.}

Lauded as the 'Female Raphael of the Arts', she was described variously as 'Perhaps the most highly cultured woman in Europe' and 'The best being of the world. It has no concept of such a talent'. She painted the most famous and fashionable of the day including David Garrick and Goethe. She was distinguished as one of only two women to be founder members of the Royal Academy of Arts, established in 1768 – an honour not bestowed on another female artist until 1936.

Kauffman’s ‘Portrait of Louise Henrietta Campbell (1772-1829), seated full-length, in a white dress holding a pencil and drawing’ is a lovely example of her delicate and elegant style. Neoclassical in form, her sitter becomes a Greek muse. This full-length but small-scale portrait was the height of fashion in the late 18^th century. There had been great strides in female education through the Georgian era and it was fashionable for women to wish to elevate themselves with the association of learning. The sitter was the daughter of Peter Campbell of Kilmory, Argyllshire.

There has been much discussion in recent years of the neglect shown to female artists in Western art, particularly with regard to under-representation in museum collections and inferior prices achieved for works on the market in comparison with male counterparts. Thankfully the pendulum has begun to swing in the other direction and the work of Angelica and other female artists is now receiving the attention and status within the canon that they so rightly deserve. Prices have increased at auction and there is a greater appetite amongst museums and galleries to acquire her work.

This work, along with another pair, 'And Nathan said unto David, 'Thou art Man';The prophet Ahlijah foretells to the wife of King Jeroboam the death of her son Abijah' will appear in our 4 April 2023 sale of Old Master, British & European Art. Keep up with news from the department by signing up for alerts here and follow the department on Instagram @sworderspaintings

For more information about the 2023 sale, please contact - 

Jane Oakley

janeoakley@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778