t daughter, which you have sent to us; and it
has been most acceptable to us, both on account of the person
therein represented, whom we love with the love of a father by
reason of her true piety and her other most beautiful qualities
of mind, to say nothing of other reasons, and also because it has
been very well and diligently executed by your hand. We thank you
for it, assuring you that we shall hold it among our dearest
possessions, and commending this your art, which, although it is
marvellous, we understand to be the least of the many gifts that
are in you. And with this conclusion we send you once again our
benediction. May our Lord God preserve you.

"Dat. Romae, die 15 Octob., 1561."

And let this testimony suffice to prove how great is the talent of
Sofonisba.

A sister of hers, called Lucia, left at her death fame no less than that
of Sofonisba, by means of some pictures by her hand that are no less
beautiful and precious than those of her sister described above, as may
be seen at Cremona from a portrait that she executed of Signor Pietro
Maria, an eminent physician, but even more from another portrait,
painted by that gifted maiden, of the Duke of Sessa, which was
counterfeited by her so well, that it would seem impossible to do better
or to make a portrait with a more animated likeness.

The third of the sisters Anguisciuola, called Europa, is still a child
in age. To her, a girl all grace and talent, I have spoken this very
year; and, in so far as one can see from her works and drawings, she
will be in no way inferior to Sofonisba and Lucia, her sisters. This
Europa has executed many portraits of gentlemen at Cremona, which are
altogether beautiful and natural, and one of her mother, Signora Bianca,
she sent to Spain, which vastly pleased Sofonisba and everyone of that
Court who saw it. Anna, the fourth sister, although but a little girl,
is also giving her attention with much profit to design: so that I know
not what to say save that it is necessary to have by nature an
inclination for art, and then to add to that study and practice, as has
been done by those four noble and gifted sisters, so much enamoured of
every rare art, and in particular of the matters of design, insomuch
that the house of Signor Amilcare Anguisciuola, most happy father of a
fair and honourable family, appeared to me the home of painting, or
rather, of all the arts. But, if