Kauffmann, Angelica (1741-1807), was a Swiss-born painter. She specialized in portraits and in scenes from Greek and Roman mythology and history.
Kauffmann was born on Oct. 30, 1741, in Chur, Switzerland. As a young woman she worked in Italy, where she gained a reputation as a portrait painter. In the 1700’s, there was a demand for portraits of English men and women who visited Italy during their “Grand Tour” of Europe. In 1766, Lady Wentworth, wife of an English ambassador and one of Kauffmann’s clients, persuaded the artist to return with her to England. There Kauffmann became a close friend of the artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. She joined him in his efforts to promote neoclassical painting, which emphasized themes from Greek and Roman culture.
In 1768, Kauffmann became a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. She worked with architect Robert Adam in decorating house interiors that used Greek and Roman themes and artistic styles. In 1781, Kauffmann returned to Italy. She died on Nov. 5, 1807.
