A receptacle of deep emotions, successful 18th-century Swiss artist Angelica Kauffmann (1741–1807) was a self-taught child prodigy who painted her first commission at age 12.

Born in the Swiss town of Chur, her father painted murals, and she helped him at a very young age. Her passion for historical painting was hampered by the notion that women were not allowed to sketch nude figures.

That did not stop her.

As the great military thinker Karl von Clausewitz once said, “Pursue one great decisive aim with force and determination.” Undaunted, the ambitious artist trained herself by copying from books and other paintings. She overcame the restrictions of her time.

A founding member of the British Royal Academy in 1768, Kauffmann's paintings featured rich, warm colors and intense emotions. With a highly respected reputation, she popularized her work through prints, making her art more accessible and admired across Europe.

Angelica’s courage still echoes today, when an artist creates from the heart and dares to defy limits. Her legacy lives in every brushstroke of color and truth.

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