Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656)

Children – five children

### Best Known For

her paintings that feature women from myths, allegories, and the Bible, including victims, suicides, and warriors

## About

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656) was an Italian Baroque painter and one of the most accomplished artists of the seventeenth century. She was initially influenced by Caravaggio's style, and later became an important second-generation proponent of his work. Gentileschi's paintings often feature women from myths, allegories, and the Bible, including victims, suicides, and warriors. Some of her best-known works are Susanna and the Elders and Judith Slaying Holofernes. Gentileschi's life story often overshadows her art, but she was the most celebrated female artist of the seventeenth century. She was born in Rome in 1593 and brought up by her father, the painter Orazio Gentileschi. She trained alongside her three brothers in his workshop, where she proved to be the most talented of all his children. In 1611, she was raped by Agostino Tassi, a painter who had been hired by her father to tutor her. When Tassi did not fulfil his promise to marry her, Orazio Gentileschi brought him to trial. During the trial, Gentileschi was subjected to a gynaecological examination and torture to prove her testimony. Tassi was found guilty, but never served his sentence. Following the trial, Gentileschi married a little-known Florentine artist and left Rome for Florence shortly thereafter. There she had five children and established herself as an independent artist, becoming an early woman member of the Academy of the Arts of Drawing in 1616. Gentileschi returned to Rome in 1620 and remained there for ten years. She later worked in Florence, Venice, Naples, and London, for the highest echelons of European society, including the Grand Duke of Tuscany and Philip IV of Spain.

## Relationships

Artemisia Gentileschi had a complicated relationship with Agostino Tassi, who raped her when she was a teenager. After the rape, Artemisia continued to have sexual relations with Tassi, with the expectation that they were going to be married, but Tassi broke his promise to marry her. Artemisia's father, Orazio, found out that Artemisia and Tassi weren't going to get married, and he pressed charges against Tassi. Artemisia was also friends with Tuzia, who was present during the rape but did not help her.

## Filmography

There is a 1997 French-German-Italian biographical film called “Artemisia” directed by Agnès Merlet, which is about Artemisia Gentileschi, the female Italian Baroque painter. The film stars Valentina Cervi and Michel Serrault. There is also a 2020 documentary film called “Artemisia Gentileschi: Warrior Painter” directed by Jordan River.

## Litigation

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656) was involved in a famous legal case in Rome in 1612. She was raped by Agostino Tassi, a painter who had been hired by her father to teach her perspective. When Tassi refused to marry her, Artemisia's father pressed charges against him. The trial lasted seven months and involved torture, during which Artemisia was subjected to a gynaecological examination to prove her virginity. Tassi was found guilty, but never served his sentence. The trial transcripts provide a rare glimpse into the life of a female artist in the seventeenth century. Despite the trauma of the trial, Artemisia continued to paint and became one of the most celebrated female painters of the seventeenth century.