4 comments


  • How delightful to find these paintings here! I have long been fascinated by Artemisia Gentileschi’s life and work. As I understand it, she was not apprenticed to her rapist but worked in her father’s studio where he also worked. Women were not allowed to paint at the time. She was tortured during his trial but maintained her story and he was found guilty but returned from his “life banishment” within a couple of years. She used his face several times in paintings and became a better painter than either her father or the man who attacked her (he was also married). Women painters of the period found acceptance because of her story.

    I believe her story is partial inspiration for George Elliot’s novel Romola.

    January 19, 2020
  • Jeannine Gailey

    Yes! I’ve ordered a couple of books from the library on the subject. The museum said “apprenticed” but I’ve also heard “co-worker of her father” but I believe her father really encouraged her to paint from an early age. Did you hear about the discovery of her self-portrait? I would love to get a look at that in person!

    January 19, 2020
  • There is the painting of herself as an allegory of painting, but you must mean this more recently identified one? https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rare-self-portrait-by-artemisia-gentileschi-now-on-display

    January 19, 2020
  • […] Jeannine Hall Gailey, A Week of Being Snowed In, Art Date at the SAM, and a Little Poetry Catchup […]

    January 19, 2020

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