LIFE AMONG
KINGS AND QUEENS
A 1559 treaty between Spain and France pro-
foundly changed two women’s lives: Under the
terms of the peace, French princess Elizabeth
(Isabel, in Spain) of Valois was wed to Philip II of
Spain and traveled at age 14 to a new life in Madrid.
Sofonisba (who was 27 years old) was employed
as her companion and royal portraitist. Over 14years, Sofonisba gained the trust of the royal family,
especially the king and queen. Sofonisba’s royal
portraits are more formal than her other works but
still manage to convey warmth. Wearing black pre-
dominated at the Spanish court, as a show of aus-
terity. After Isabel’s death, Philip took a new wife,
Anna of Austria, whom Sofonisba also painted.12