Artemisia Gentileschi

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1652) was the most recognized Female painter in Baroque period, the first Woman to become a member of the Accademia di Arte in Florence. In the era when Female artists were limited to portrait painting and imitative poses, she was the first Woman to paint major historical and religious scenarios. Today, She is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 17th century.

Traumatic events of Her youth impacted on Her painting. We know about 57 works by Artemisia Gentileschi and 49 of them feature Women as protagonists or equal to men. Her Heroines are often powerful Women exacting revenge on male evildoers.

Artemisia's paintings cater to a niche market in sexually-charged, Female-dominant art for male patrons. Grisly paintings of Judith and Holofernes become Her signature works. She painted at least half of dozen of them. Judith cutting off the head of Holofernes was popular motif, but Artemisia's Judith - for the first time - is not passive or angelic person doing the act with the help of an intervening God, She is strong Woman performing the act with calculated determination.