Giorgio Vasari

“ Encouraged by her success in these attempts, Properzia resolved to apply to the superintendent of works to the cathedral for a portion of the labours to be executed, when the three doors of the principal façade of San Petronio were to be decorated with figures in marble. This she did through the medium of her husband, and to that application the superintendents returned a favourable reply, declaring themselves willing to entrust her with a portion of the work, but first requiring to see some specimen in marble of what she could perform. ”

“ The truth of this observation may be perceived clearly from a picture of the Nativity of Christ copied by Sister Plautilla from one which was painted by Bronzino for Filippo Salviati, and is furthermore made manifest by the fact that the figures and faces of women, whom she could study at her pleasure, are much more satisfactorily rendered in her works than are those of men, and have a much closer resemblance to the truth of nature. ”

“ This lady, who is now the wife of the Count Clemente Pietra, has produced works which, as may be seen by many pictures and portraits by her hand, are worthy of commendation from all. [20] But with more zeal and in a more graceful manner than any other woman of our time, has the Cremonese Sophonisba, daughter of Messer Annibale Anguisciola, [21] laboured in these our arts ”

“ But, it is certain that at no period of the world’s history, has the truth of the assertion which we have made above been rendered more clearly manifest than in the present, wherein the highest fame has been acquired by women, not only in the study of letters, as in the instance of the Signora Vittoria del Vasto, the Signora Veronica Gambara, the Signora Catarina Anguisciola, Schioppa, Nugarola, Madonna Laura Battiferra, and a hundred others, who are most learned ”

“ There is no one to whom their excellence in the general economy of life is unknown, but even in warlike enterprises they have sometimes been seen to distinguish themselves, as witness, Camilla, Arpalice, Valasca, Tomiris, Panthesilea, Molpadia, Orithya, Antiope, Hippolyta, Semiramis, Zenobia, and, finally, Mark Antony’s Fulvia, who so frequently armed herself, as the historian Dion informs ns, in her husband’s defence as well as her own. ”

“ The best of the Sister Plaiitilla’s works are without doubt those that she has copied from others, but from these it is manifest that she would have effected admirable things if she had been able to study as men do, from the life, and had been furnished with the advantages of various kinds which the student in design acquires in drawing from nature, &c. ”

“ Wherefore, as a memorial of Sophonisba, of whose works, since she is dwelling in Spain, Italy possesses no copy, I have placed this drawing in my book of designs.
Truly may we affirm, then, with the divine Ariosto, [22] that,
“Women have risen to high excellence
In every art whereto they give their care.”
And this shall be the end of the life of Properzia, the sculptress of Bologna.
↑ “Of her own makinghear ye that, my masters! ↑ “If ever,” exclaims an angry critic; jealous, without doubt, of the honours so justly paid to ladies by the excellent Messer Giorgio ”

“ It is true that there are two angels of most beautiful proportions, and in fine relief, by the hand of Properzia, which are still to be seen in San Petronio, but these were done entirely against her will. [11] She ultimately devoted her attention to copper-plate engraving, wherein she succeeded to admiration, and was liigWy extolled; the poor enamoured young woman was indeed most perfectly successful in all things, with the exception of her unhappy love. ”