At Piacenza, in the house of the Signor Archdeacon of the principal church, there are two most beautiful pictures by the hand of this lady.[1] One of them presents the portrait of the Signor Archdeacon above-named, the other that of Sophonisba herself. I have already related the fact of this lady’s being invited by the Duke of Alva to enter the service of the Queen of Spain, and in that country she still remains, receiving very handsome appointments, and being highly honoured. Many portraits and other pictures which are greatly extolled, have been executed by Sophonisba during her residence in Spain, and the fame of these her works moved Pope Pius IV. to make known to her that he desired to have the portrait of the above-mentioned most illustrious Queen of Spain from her hand; wherefore, having executed the same with all the diligence and care that was possible, she sent the portrait to Rome, there to be presented to his Holiness, accompanied by a letter, written in the precise terms that follow. “Holy Father. From the Most Reverend Nunzio of your Holiness, I understand that you desire to have from my hand the portrait of her Majesty the Queen my mistress. Now as I consider this commission a singular grace and favour, having to serve your Holiness, I have requested permission from Her Majesty, who has most willingly granted the same, perceiving in this wish a proof of the paternal affection which your Holiness bears to Her Majesty; I send the portrait, therefore, by the occasion afforded to me by this Cavalier, and if in that painting I shall be found to have satisfied the wish of your Holiness, I shall find infinite comfort in the knowledge thereof: but I will not omit to say that if the beauties of mind possessed by this most illustrious Queen could also be represented by the pencil to the eyes of your Holiness, you could see nothing more admirable. As respects the delineation of those features which may be portrayed by art, I have not failed to use all the care which I could command, to the end that your Holiness might behold them in their truth.
- ↑ The portrait of Sophonisba, painted by herself, is at Althorpe; and there is a Marriage of St. Catherine by her hand at Wilton.
