Artemisia Gentileschi

artists who had similar artistic styles. Being a woman, Gentileschi was denied recognition in the

Artemisia Gentileschi was born in Rome in 1593. Her father was Orazio Gentileschi, a very well-known artist in Rome at that time. At this time, men ruled the art world. This was the post-renaissance era, and women were only involved in portrait painting. She was known for painting religious and historical scenes, paving the way for other female artists. She received training from her father in her early years as an artist. Gentileschi, tragically, was raped by an artist who was friends with her father. He was exiled from Rome when put to trial. She also lost her mother when she was 12. Her childhood and young adult years were not easy. Through her struggles, she managed to overcome all odds and make her work known in an art world run by men.

Artemisia Gentileschi Who is Artemisia Gentileschi? Why is she important? Well in the following paragraphs I will write about Artemisia, about her life, and accomplishments.

Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi ultimately painted one of the most violent representations of Judith in the history of art (Straussman-Pflanzer, 12). Gentileschi was the only woman painter of the Baroque period in her time. She was born in Rome in 1593 to Orazio Gentileschi and Prudenzia Montoni. Artemisia was a follower of Caravaggio, whom art is frequently considered primarily in terms of its naturalism (Straussman-Pflanzer, 13). She also learned the principles of art from her father and the basic perspective from Tassi.

Feminism has been a controversial topic since as early as the 19th century. Feminism has had a profound effect on women’s roles in society as well as their everyday life. There are countless feminists whose achievements are still recognized and remembered today. Jane Addams is a historical feminist who changed the lives for the women of her time, and is still talked about to this day. While feminism was huge in the earlier years of America, there are contemporary feminists who fight for the rights and equality of women that are still not met. In recent years, Gloria Steinem has spoken up for the equality of women and pushed for social reform. Jane Addams and Gloria Steinem are more than feminists, they are activists with many accomplishments that changed the lives for every woman of their time.

Judith Slaying Holofernes is one of her masterpieces that has been acknowledged as a proper piece to understand the main characteristics of her painting style. Carol Strickland, an American art historian, explains that this painting shows how Gentileschi depicted her subject into the style of Caravaggio, who was her father’s teacher and famous for dramatic lightning (Strickland, 47). Based on these facts, some critics conjecture that Gentileschi may just have borrowed the dramatic story from the Book of Judith to express her technique that resembled that of Caravaggio. They argue that it is unreasonable and too subjective to relate Judith Slaying Holofernes with the identity of Gentileschi. Identity of Gentileschi, however, cannot be separated with the story of Judith and the painting Judith Slaying Holofernes because Gentileschi’s identity severely resembles that of Judith. Their struggle, success leaded by their capacity, and destruction of the gender stereotypes are main common aspects that Judith and Gentileschi share. These qualities further prove how Artemisia Gentileschi was an ideal feminist who asserted her freedom inside an unfair

The passage that I read is about renowned female Baroque (and Renaissance) painter Artemisia Gentileschi.She was taught by her father at a young age. However, as a teenager, Gentileschi was sexually assaulted by another artist and friend of her neighbor, Agostino Tassi. Later on in her life, she returned to painting and married painter Pietro Stiattesi. They eventually separated, and Artemisia lived a life of self-reliance and independence. Her art emphasized classical and biblical themes, but also focused on stories, especially of women. She also used female characters as metaphors to convey themes like oppression, suffering, injustice, and triumphs of women. Gentileschi gained popularity soonafter, and became the first woman to be admitted

Artemisia Gentileschi is believed to have been born around 1593 and died around 1652.  Both dates are disputed to the current day.  She was one of five children and was born into the life of an artist.  Her father, who was an artist as well, loved her greatly.  Her mother died when she was twelve.  Artemisia was always a skilled painter, but her father wanted even more for her daughter.  While her works were already amazing for her age, she needed artistic guidance in order to further her skills.  One man who was hired as a tutor was named Agostino Tossi.  Tossi almost immediately was an annoying presence in the house frustrating Artemisia.  However, in 1610,

He backs up Garrard’s argument that portraying the painting as a visual response to psychological trauma takes away from Gentileschi as a painter, and that the painting represents an entirely different interaction of women and art, that is the role of women artists and historical context . Instead, Christiansen believes that Gentileschi’s Judith is actually an assertion of agency because of it’s production. He also agrees with Bissell’s claim that the painting would be inconceivable without the experience of the earlier treatment of the Judith theme by Caravaggio and Rubens. However he further explores the nature of Gentileschi’s borrowing and influences, noting the effort she made to create the bloody effects to portrays violence as something that is a very real occurrence. Thus he argues that Gentileschi amplifies the realism to present a story in strongly expressive

The bond between mother and child has been a constant theme in the world of the humanities. While that bond has been the same throughout history, its portrayal in art has varied from decade to decade. Two artists, Artemisia Gentileschi and Mary Cassatt, chose to create pieces based on this bond, but the use of mediums and the influence from religion (or the lack thereof) help to distinguish between the artists and their time periods.

Despite the years of oppression, women have overcome sexism and have made a difference. Since the late 18th century, around The French Revolution, women have been fighting for equality, freedom, and rights. These women became known as feminist. Feminists have been fighting for years, and to this day, for equal rights, and they have won many battles. Here are some examples in recent history of how women succeeded: from 1916-1920, women started Women’s suffrage. The 19th Amendment passed allowing women the rights

I think it’s natural for no matter viewers or historians trying to psychoanalyze artists’ artworks. When a person appreciates an artwork, he/she would analyze different aspects including stylistic characteristics and cultural context like what we are practicing now. I believe that Artemisia Gentileschi was somehow “working out” her feelings about her circumstances through her work. Although it is just a biblical scene from the Old Testament “Book of Judith” and a typical example of Baroque art due to the Catholic Counter Reformation, Artemisia Gentileschi painted this scene at least six times in a dramatic way. Looking at the painting, the expression on Judith’s face is extremely vivid. She looks determined for pressing Holofernes’ head hard

Artemisia Gentileschi was not the first to paint Judith Slaying Holofernes. Her father had painted Judith. Michelangelo, Botticelli and Caravaggio had painted Judith. Donatello had sculpted Judith. But she was the first to interpret the story of Judith, in a time when women had few rights, as an allegory for female dominance. In comparison with other contemporary versions, the composition, dramatic style, and emotions of the characters present a violently feminist view that may have stemmed from Gentileschi's own experiences.

Throughout history female figures have played an important role as subject matter. The female figure is very subjective, as peered through the different lenses of varying cultures. The status and functions of women in these cultures are the primary factors that influence how they are portrayed in art of a certain culture. However, the female figure itself through its natural and inherent iconography represents fertility and the importance of women in society. This natural iconography creates certain parallels in content between all works that use the female figure as subject matter. This varying subjectivity of a female’s status based on an artist’s culture will create differences in content and themes; however some aspects remain similar

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