Artemisia+Ghetileschi

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1652) was an Italian Baroque artist who was one of the most celebrated female artists in her time, and was the first female artist accepted into the Academy of the Arts of Drawing. She began to learn her initial artistic skills from her father, Orazio Gentileschi, who was an artist himself. Starting at age 17, with her painting, Susanna and the Elders, she made a name for herself, although not in the way most artists hope. Her father was working with another artist, Agostino Tassi, who was hired to privately tutor Artemisia. He then proceeded to rape her, but was not brought to justice because they were believed to be married in the future. It was only when Tassi backed out of the marriage that the Gentileschis accused him of the rape, and took him to court. Along with the rape, it was found out that Tassi planned to steal some of Orazio's paintings.

Susanna and the Elders was painted in order to depict her rape. It is said that Tassi was aided by another man, hence the two elders.



One of her most famous artworks, Judith Slaying Holofernes (1612-1613) depicts Judith beheading Holofernes, the Assyrian General who was ruling Israel at the time, after he had raped her. She kills him with the help of her maidservant. This painting had a very personal influence from Artemisia, who painted herself as Judith and Tassi as Holofernes. This biblical reference held a very heavy message and is a clear portrayal of Artemisia's feelings on the matter.




 * All information is from Wikipedia.com.