Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) was the first woman to become a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. Her talent was appreciated by the Medici family and King Charles I of England. After her death a great deal of her work fell into obscurity and was often attributed to other followers of Caravaggio or to her father. Today she is regarded as one of the most brilliant, progressive and expressive painters of her generation.
Artemisia was taught how to paint by her father, painter Orazio Gentileschi. I wonder what would be the chance of her talent noticed and, more importantly, chances of her receiving professional training, had she not been born in a family of an artist? Probably zero.
"Susanna and the Elders" tells a famous biblical story about two men trying to blackmail Susanna, a virtuous wife, into having sex with them. Susanna refuses to be blackmailed, they falsely accuse her of adultery and she is sentenced to death, but just in time she is rescued by a young man (Daniel) who suggests the men are separated and cross-examined, thus exposing their lies. Susanna is freed, the elders are sentenced to death.
The painting is dated 1610; Artemisia was only seventeen years old when she painted "Susanna and the Elders".
Artemisia was taught how to paint by her father, painter Orazio Gentileschi. I wonder what would be the chance of her talent noticed and, more importantly, chances of her receiving professional training, had she not been born in a family of an artist? Probably zero.
"Susanna and the Elders" tells a famous biblical story about two men trying to blackmail Susanna, a virtuous wife, into having sex with them. Susanna refuses to be blackmailed, they falsely accuse her of adultery and she is sentenced to death, but just in time she is rescued by a young man (Daniel) who suggests the men are separated and cross-examined, thus exposing their lies. Susanna is freed, the elders are sentenced to death.
The painting is dated 1610; Artemisia was only seventeen years old when she painted "Susanna and the Elders".
In 1611, when Artemisia was 19 years old, a colleague of Artemizia's father, Agostino Tassi, raped Artemisia and then promised to marry her. Based on these promises the sexual relationship continued. Orazio went to court when he found that Tassi was already married. At the trial in 1612, Artemisia had to testify under torture by thumbscrews. After a 7-month trial Tassi was convicted and sentenced to exile from Rome, but never served the sentence.
Artemisia painted "Judith beheading Holofernes" (below) during or soon after the trial.
Artemisia painted "Judith beheading Holofernes" (below) during or soon after the trial.
Within a month after the trial, Artemisia was married off to another painter and moved to Florence. The marriage failed, Artemisia separated from her husband and was living as "head of household", working as an artist. Befriended by Galileo and Michelangelo's grandnephew, the Medici became her patrons. She was the first woman admitted to the Accademia del Designo in Florence and became known for large, dramatic paintings featuring female heroes from the old testament, history and mythology. She gave birth to five children (only two survived past childhood) worked in Rome, Naples, Venice and London.
Although she was famous in her time, she was excluded from history books until rediscovered by Roberto Longhi in 1916. Today, approximately forty paintings can be attributed to Artemisia.
Although she was famous in her time, she was excluded from history books until rediscovered by Roberto Longhi in 1916. Today, approximately forty paintings can be attributed to Artemisia.
In the recent decades, a number of books were written about Artemisia Gentileschi. A good list of bibliography can be found in a documentary about Artemisia, "A Woman Like That".