Håbet

January 1763

Meets the English community in Rome

Moving to Rome in January 1763, Kauffman was introduced to the British community there; as she learned more English and continued with portraiture, she became a popular portraitist for British visitors to Rome.

1764

Her portrait of Winckelmann

In Rome Kauffman painted a half-length portrait of the art historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann and also made an etching of it; in August 1764 Winckelmann wrote to a friend about her popularity: she spoke Italian and German, handled French and English with ease, could be called beautiful, and in singing could vie with the best virtuosi.

1765

A journey with Lady Wentworth: Bologna, Venice, Paris

Accompanied by Lady Wentworth, the wife of the British ambassador, Kauffman travelled for the first time without her father, to Bologna, Venice and Paris, where she studied the works of Rubens.

1766

Friendship with Joshua Reynolds

Reynolds became Kauffman’s firmest friend: in his pocketbooks she often appears as “Miss Angelica” or “Miss Angel”; in 1766 he painted her portrait, and she answered with her portrait of Reynolds.

June 1766

Arrives in London

In June 1766 Kauffman arrived in London, having been persuaded by Lady Wentworth to go with her. Lady Wentworth’s rank opened society to her, and the royal family showed her particular favour.

1767

Marries the impostor “Count de Horn”

In 1767 Kauffman married an impostor calling himself Count Frederick de Horn; the marriage ended in scandal: by one account it was declared void within a few months, by another the couple separated the following year.