Until recently, the painter Sofonisba Anguissola was barely known to most audiences. Now, after multiple recent exhibitions, she is increasingly recognized as one of the major figures of the later Italian Renaissance. Nevertheless, much about her identity and production as an artist remains elusive. This talk, presented by Michael Cole of Columbia University, considers how the study of Sofonisba’s work points to a sometimes troubled relationship between the history of women artists and the old art-historical practice of assigning authors to paintings. It also addresses several of the most recent questions and controversies surrounding her work.