Artemisia Gentileschi

Artemisia Gentileschi (July 8, 1593 - 1653) is today considered one of the most accomplished Early Baroque painters in the generation influenced by Caravaggio (the "Caravaggisti"). Remarkably, in an era when women painters were not easily accepted, she became the first female painter to become a member of the Accademia dell' Arte del Disegno in Florence. She was also one of the first female artists to paint history and religious paintings, at a time when such heroic themes were considered beyond a mere woman's reach.

Women as painters

For a woman, at the beginning of the XVII century, being a painter like Artemisia represented an uncommon and difficult choice, but also not an exceptional one. Before Artemisia, between the end of the 1500 and the beginning of 1600 other woman painters started with success their artisitic activities. We can mention Sofonisba Anguissola (Born in Cremona around 1530 - Palermo around 1625), who was called into Spain by Philip II of Spain; Lavinia Fontana (Bologna, 1552 - Rome 1614) who departed for Rome by invitation of Pope Clemente VIII; and Fede Galizia (Milano or Trento, 1578 - Milano 1630) who painted, among all her works, great still lifes and a beautiful Giuditta con la testa di Oloferne ("Giuditta with the head of Oloferne). Other women painters, more or less famous, began their career while Artemisia was alive. If we judge their artistic merits, the statement of Roberto Longhi, " the only woman in Italy who ever knew about painting..." sounds rather unfair.

Related Topics:
XVII century - 1500 - 1600 - Sofonisba Anguissola - Cremona - 1530 - Palermo - 1625 - Philip II of Spain - Lavinia Fontana - Bologna - 1552 - Rome - 1614 - Pope Clemente VIII - Fede Galizia - Milano - Trento - 1578 - 1630

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