As a result of our collaborative Unwrapping an Icon project, we are now satisfied that all the evidence of stylistic and technical examination points to Alonso Sánchez Coello (c. 1531-88), principal portrait painter to Philip II of Spain, as the artist of the Lady in a Fur Wrap. The reattribution of this famous masterpiece has just been officially announced and extensively covered by the media: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/news/results-of-research-on-spanish-masterpiece-lady-in-a-fur-wrap-announced/
In our main post this time, therefore, we are sharing part of the conversation by the Project Team that fed into the final text of the media release. The announcement of the reattribution also coincides with the fascinating exhibition A Tale of Two Women Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana at the Prado Museum, which helps to show why Sánchez Coello is the author of the Glasgow painting and Sofonisba is not: https://www.museodelprado.es/en/whats-on/exhibition/a-tale-of-two-women-painters-sofonisba-anguissola/5f6c56c8-e81a-bf38-5f3f-9a2c2f5c60eb.
Our collaborative project continues as we prepare for reinstallation and reinterpretation of the Lady at Pollok House in 2020. A publication with full details of our investigation is also planned. We’ll keep you posted!
Hilary Macartney
Unwrapping an Icon 