KAUFFIVIANN, kouf'man, ANGELICA ( 1741 IS07 ) . A German historical and portrait paint er, born at Chur, Switzerland. October 30, 1741. She was taught by her father, Johann Josef Kautimann, a painter of some talent. At an early age Angelica displayed such talent that her father took to Italy. At C01110, in 1752, she executed a portrait in pastel of the Bishop of Como, which attracted much atten tion. She studied in the galleries of Milan in 1754, also painting portraits, among them those of the Duchess of Carrara. In 1757 she assisted her father in the decoration of the church at Schwarzenbe•g, painting twelve full-length figures of the Apostles. and also in decorating the seats of the counts of Montfort. She then studied in Northern Italy, especially at Florence, where she remained seven months. developing a remarkable talent for music and song. In 1763, at Rome, she studied ancient art under Winckel mann, who became her fast friend, and whose por trait she painted. At this time she made a study of historical and allegorical compositions.
In 1765 her English friends persuaded her to go to England; after spending a year studying at Venice, she arrived in London in 1766. She was received with great favor, her charm of manner, as well as her art, winning for her many friends. She was feted by the aristocracy and presented at. Court. Among her admirers were Goldsmith, Garrick, Fn.:0i. and Sir Joshua Rey nolds. She was elected one of the mem bers of the Royal Academy in 1769. and for years following was a prominent exhibitor at the Academy. She was also successful as an interior decorator and as an engraver and etcher. There are thirty-one plates. with at least two hundred of her original drawings, at the British Alit scum. Her life was imhittered by a secret marriage. in 1767, with an impostor. a supposed Swedish Count Horn. The Pope annulled her marriage, and in 17S1 she married Antonio Zucchi. a Venetian painter, with whom she re tu•ned to Italy the same year. After acting as teacher of design to the Princess of Naples. she
settled at Rome, where her house became the centre of a coterie of scholars and artists, among whom was Goethe, who has given a trenchant characterization of her art. Her husband died in 1795. hut she remained in Rome until her death, November 5, 1807. She was buried in the Church of Sall Andrea (Idle Fratte, and her bust Was placed in the Pantheon. Canova superin tended the funeral, which was conducted with considerable pomp and attended by the academi cians of Saint Luke.
Angelica exeelled in single figures and in por traits. especially those of women. Iler historieal painting. are poor in composition; the figures are without variety or passion and lark virility, but they are marked by grace and charm and are al ways pleasing. Alany of her pictures were engraved by tire best engravers of the day. Among the his torical paintings of her early period (before 1781) are: The "...Mother of the Gracehi;" tire "Sacrifice of „Mess:Inn:1C' "Edgar and Ethel frida ;•' "Anna and Abra ;" "Samma at Benonni's Grave," presented to tire poet Klopstoek. Espe cially good is "Psyche Drying Cupid's Tears." Tier other works include the "Death of Leonardo da Vinci" (1781) : "ScrVins Tullius as a Child" (1784) : the "Adieux of Abrdard and lhloise:" "Hermitage, Saint "Arhulne and Theseus," and the well-known "Vestal Virgin," in the Dresden Gallery: ''Christ and the Woman of Samaria" (1799) ; "Virtue Directed by Prudence to Withstand the Solicitations of Folly" (now in Philadelphia), painted in connection with her husband. Among her best portraits are those of herself in the National Gallery (London), the Berlin Aluseum, the 'Munich and Uffizi galleries ( Florence) ; Raphael Mengs and Lady Hamilton. in the South Kensington :Museum.
Consult : De Rossi, Eita di .tugclica Kuuffmann ( Florence. 1810); Wessely, in Dohnie, Kunst itnil Kiinstler (Leipzig, 1817) ; Schram. Pic A nye' ikez K null" mann (Briinn, 1890) ; Gerard, .1 n gel ieu Kuuffmunn (London, 1893).