In the footsteps of Angelika Kauffmann, the most famous woman from Chur

For information on the trip, see below under Documents or under www.kirchefelsberg.ch/.

Angelika Kauffmann is considered the most famous woman from Chur. She was born on 30 Oct 1741 at Reichsgasse 57. Even as a child, she often accompanied her father, who worked as a portrait and fresco painter. Her musical and picturesque streak was admired early on. In 1752 the family moved to Como. Since girls were denied education, the child prodigy was supported by the father. Angelika was introduced to the high society of the time. This was followed by stays in Milan, in the Bregenzerwald and again in Italy.  Here she dealt with the Renaissance and ancient mythology. Women were denied painting them at that time. How could a tender woman's soul paint naked women, even naked men? For a long time, history painting was reserved for men. But Angelika prevailed, directing the gaze from the heroic male figures to the strong women, whom she brought to the fore in her countless pictures. In 1765 she was admitted to the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. In 1766 Angelika moved to London by personal invitation. The most famous British painter of the time, Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), promoted the young artist and is even said to have proposed to her. Angelika became a founding member of the Royal Academy. In 1782 she returned to Rome.  Here she socialized in educated circles, among others with Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) and Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803). The latter described her as the "most cultured woman in Europe". In 1791/1792 Angelika painted her most important self-portrait, the self-portrait at the crossroads between music and painting, which can be seen today in the Moscow Pushkin Museum. She died in Rome in 1807. Her portrait bust was placed next to that of Raphael (1483-1520) in the Pantheon.