Artemisia Gentileschi

Natalie Boewer

Artemisia Gentileschi was an influential artist during the renaissance period who rose to fame despite the minuscule number of females in the art field at that time.

Early Life:Artemisia was born on July 8th, 1593, in Rome, Italy. She studied

artistic methods with her father who was a well-known artist as a young girl. The beginning of her life was rather picturesque until the age of twelve, when her mother died. Five years later when she was seventeen another tragedy occurred when she was raped by one of her fathers colleagues. Her father was enraged and started a trial, which ended in his colleague being banished from Rome- this would have been an adequate punishment if it were actually enforced.

Young Adult Years She married a painter named Pietro Antonio di Vicenzo Stiattesi and

moved to Florence as a result of that. She gave birth to one daughter and flourished in terms of art although she was beset by some marriage problems. She enjoyed patronage from the Grand Duke of Tuscany and King Philip IV of Spain. During this period of her life she made friends with many fellow artists and thinkers, one of the most famous being Galileo.

Famous Works of ArtOne of her most famous pieces was “Susanna and the Elders”, completed around 1610, it depicted a scene from the Bible where two Elders falsely accuse a young woman of adultery. Gentileschi completed the master piece with a realistic take, and added a sense of raw emotion.

Artwork ContinuedThe theme of strong female protagonists in her artwork was carried on by her famous painting created around 1611 ,”Judith Slaying Holofernes” depicting a scene from the Bible where Judith saves the Jews from the general Holofernes. The painting shows in brutal realism the violence of the scene.

Artwork ContinuedYears after finishing “Judith Slaying Holofernes” she created the renown masterpiece ,”Judith and her Maidservant” in 1625. Which depicted Judith and her maid after the had slain Holofernes, holding his severed head in a basket.

Later YearsIn 1630 Gentileschi settled in Naples, Italy- during this time period she painted some of her most famous self-portraits. One of which is referred to as “Self Portrait as the Allegory of Painting.” Around 1639 after her father had been commissioned by Queen Henrietta Maria she went to England to visit and work with him.

Later Years Continued and Legacy

Artemisia painted for the rest of her life before her death in Naples at around 1652. Artemisia Gentileschi was known for her skillfulness as an artist- as well as doing the unthinkable and rising to fame in a male dominated field in a time where not so many opportunities were available to women. She clearly showed in her artwork that she was inspired by strong female protagonists and their willingness to stand up for themselves and others.

Sources.http://www.biography.com/people/artemisia-gentileschi-9308725?page=1http://www.artemisia-gentileschi.com/index.shtmlhttp://www.artbible.info/art/biography/artemisia-gentileschihttp://www.artic.edu/exhibition/violence-and-virtue-artemisia-gentileschi-s-judith-slaying-holofernes