At a time when women were typically regarded as objects or madonnas to be represented in art, Sofonisba Anguissola (1532/5-1625) was something very different indeed: a highly respected painter and teacher who interacted with the likes of Michelangelo and Anthony van Dyck, and whose remarkable portraits were enthusiastically sought by many of the most powerful figures of the age.
The Chess Game by Sofonisba is a remarkable group portrait of three of her sisters and a maid. It is widely considered to be one of her most compelling and innovative artworks: a painting whose many subtle levels of meaning offer a fascinating window on Sofonisba, her family, and contemporary 16th-century values.
Synopsis: An illuminating examination of Sofonisba Anguissola’s iconic masterpiece as a window into the artist’s full oeuvre while painting a detailed picture of Sofonisba’s journey and the world she lived in to become one of the most accomplished female artists of her time.
Runtime: 66 mins.
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Reviews: Underneath the trailer below
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REVIEWS
“The film does not limit itself with simply looking at the painting, but also examines its cultural context, including an illuminating discussion of the distinctive importance of chess itself. It also delves into the personal factors which may have inspired its creation, the artistic influences it draws on and its own subsequent influence, particularly on other female painters. Highly recommended.” – Journal of Art in Society
“Sofonisba’s Chess Game is not only a good introduction to the artist, it is a confident, well-balanced portrayal, placing her within a wider art-history context. The film breaks down not only what statement the artist is making, but the cultural significance of chess and how it is no accident that Sofonisba chooses a game of skill, rather than luck which reflects her life story.” – The Reviews Hub
“I really enjoyed the choice of images and the narrative structure of this film. In particular, I found the analysis of the game of chess very interesting, and I was intrigued by the fact that the pieces on the chessboard painted by Sofonisba have a symbolic placement.” – Cecilia Gamberini, author of Sofonisba Anguissola
“An absorbing analysis which shines through its exceptional subject: the pioneering female Renaissance artist Sofonisba Anguissola and her psychologically luminous portraiture. The showpiece analysis is brisk and compelling, from a history of chess as an emerging cultural status symbol to rival literature and music, to the painting’s Leonardo-inspired composition.” – The Guardian
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