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Artemisia Gentileschi

Artemisia (Artemesia) Gentileschi: Italian painter who lived from 1593 to about 1653, her paintings often had Biblical themes. Critics argue: was she an early feminist? and, Did the 1998 movie distort too many facts?

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Artemisia Gentileschi
University student biography on this Itailian woman painter, born July 8, 1593, including the story of the trial of artist Agostino Tassi for rape of Artemisia, and her original painting, Judith Slaying Holfernes, painted during and after the trial
Artemisia
A note on the history of Artemisia, including that she was listed by Michelangelo as one of his debtors. Image from the work of Artemisia, originally nude but covered by a later painter, of a woman holding a compass.
Artemisia
In this 1998 movie review in Art in America,, Mary D. Garrard, biographer of Artemisia Gentileschi, argues that the movie distorted many facts, including inverting the evidence of rape: she was tortured to get her to deny, not affirm, that her mentor raped her.
Artemisia: New Film Distorts History
The story of the protest of the film, Artemisia. "Those who study women's history, who know how fragile the truth about women in history always is, and how vulnerable it is to conflation with female stereotypes, have been and will be outraged by the latest injustice to Artemisia Gentileschi, who has repeatedly been subjected to sexualized explanations of her life and career success."
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653)
From "The Smart-Ass Guide to Art," a list of her major work, an image of the painting Judith and Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes, and a dramatic recreation of the dialogue from the rape trial. Mentions her connection with Charles I of England and the possibility she helped paint the ceilings of the Queen's house in Greenwich.
Artemisia Gentileschi:The Image of the Female Hero in Italia
A summary of the book by M. D. Garrard, on the publisher's web site.
Feminist cult around artist 'has no basis'
January 2001 article in The Guardian on the controversy over the feminist nature of Gentileschi's paintings, especially Judith Beheading Holofernes (1612).
Gentileschi, Artemisia and Gentileschi, Orazio
Three paintings by the daughter and four by the father.
Gentileschi at the National Gallery
Donald Bruce writes in 1999 of the exhibit: "Orazio's bloodthirsty daughter Artemisia was a more thoroughgoing imitator of Caravaggio than her father ever was." Orazio also painted for Marie de Medici, the Queen Mother of France, mentioned in this article.
The Birth of St. John the Baptist
Artemisia Gentileschi, 1635 oil on canvas. In the Museo del Prodo, Madrid. No further information on the page.
Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes
Large image of the painting, c. 1625, with a comparison to the painting of Caravaggio.
Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes
A summary of the 1625 painting by Artemesia Gentileschi, with the ability to magnify, cross index by medium, style, date, genre, and otherwise see the painting in context.
Judith and Maidservant
From the Detroit Institute of Arts, an image from their holdings, with some background on the painting's story and the artists's history. "This will show your lordship what a woman can do."
Judith Beheading Holofernes
A summary of the 1625 painting by Artemesia Gentileschi, with the ability to magnify, cross index by medium, style, date, genre, and otherwise see the painting in context.
Judith Beheading Holofernes
The story of Judith's assassination of the Assyrian general, plus a bit of the background of the artist. From an online gallery at PBS.org, "Rings of Passion: Five Emotions."
Judith Slaying Holofernes
Painting, 1612-21. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence. Image, no further details.
Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting
Artemisia Gentileschi: 1630s. Royal Collection of Her Majesty the Queen (Elizabeth II, England). No further information on the page.
Susanna and the Elders
A summary of the 1610 painting by Artemesia Gentileschi, with the ability to magnify, cross index by medium, style, date, genre, and otherwise see the painting in context.

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