Angelica Kauffman
An 18th-century Swiss painter who conquered the male-dominated art worlds of London and Rome as a founding member of Britain's Royal Academy.
1741–1807 (age 66)·Swiss artist·Birthday: October 30
Biography
Angelica Kauffman was a phenomenon. A child prodigy from Switzerland, she was painting commissioned portraits by her early teens and soon became a sought-after society face across Europe. Her real ambition, however, lay in history painting—the most prestigious and intellectually demanding genre, which was considered the exclusive domain of men. With formidable talent and social grace, she shattered that ceiling. Moving to London in 1766, she became a central figure in the artistic scene, a favorite portraitist of the aristocracy, and, decisively, one of only two women invited to be founding members of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768. Her elegant, neoclassical compositions, often focusing on literary and mythological heroines, were widely reproduced in engravings, making her one of the most famous artists of her age. Later in life, she settled in Rome, where her studio became a essential stop on the Grand Tour, a living testament to a woman who painted her own destiny.
#1 When Angelica Was Born
The biggest hits of 1741
Angelica's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1741Born
1746Started school
1754Became a teenager
1757Could drive
1759Could vote
1762Turned 21
1771Turned 30
1781Turned 40
1791Turned 50
1801Turned 60
1807Died at 66
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1768 as one of its only two female founding members.
- Achieved major success as a history painter, a genre almost entirely reserved for men at the time.
- Created ceiling paintings for the Royal Academy's first home at Somerset House, a rare honor for any artist.
- Had her work widely disseminated through popular engravings, significantly expanding her influence across Europe.
Did You Know?
She was also a talented singer and had to choose between opera and painting as a career.
She was fluent in German, Italian, French, and English.
She was friends with the influential portraitist Joshua Reynolds, who likely proposed her as a Royal Academy founder.
Her face is included in Johann Zoffany's painting of the Royal Academy members, though she and Mary Moser are depicted as portraits on the wall, not as active participants.
“I paint history because it is the proper school for the artist.”
