Artemisia Gentileschi and Feminism in Early Modern Europe

An accessible introduction to the life of the seventeenth-century's most celebrated women artists, now in paperback. Artemisia Gentileschi is by far the most famous woman artist of the premodern era. Her art addressed issues that resonate today, such as sexual violence and women's problematic relationship to political power. Her powerful paintings with vigorous female protagonists chime with modern audiences, and she is celebrated by feminist critics and scholars. This book breaks new ground by placing Gentileschi in the context of women's political history. Mary D. Garrard, noted Gentileschi scholar, shows that the artist most likely knew or knew about contemporary writers such as the Venetian feminists Lucrezia Marinella and Arcangela Tarabotti. She discusses recently discovered paintings, offers fresh perspectives on known works, and examines the artist anew in the context of feminist history. This beautifully illustrated book gives for the first time a full portrait of a strong woman artist who fought back through her art. Artemisia Gentileschi is by far the most famous woman artist of the pre-modern era. Her art addresses issues that resonate today, such as sexual violence and women's problematic relationship to political power. Her powerful paintings with their vigorous female protagonists chime with modern audiences, and she is celebrated by feminist critics and scholars. This book breaks new ground by placing Gentileschi in the context of women's political history. Mary D. Garrard shows that Gentileschi most likely knew or knew about contemporary writers such as the Venetian feminists Lucrezia Marinella and Arcangela Tarabotti. She discusses recently discovered paintings, offers fresh perspectives on known works and examines the artist anew in the context of feminist history. This beautifully illustrated book gives a full portrait of a strong woman artist who fought back through her art. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Imprint Page 5 Contents 6 Preface 8 1: Artemisia and the Writers: Feminism in Early Modern Europe 14 2: Sexuality and Sexual Violation: Susanna and Lucretia 70 3: The Fictive Self: Musicians and Magdalenes 96 4: Women and Political Power: Judith 128 5: Battle of the Sexes: Women on Top 162 6: The Divided Self: Allegorical and Real 198 7: Matriarchal Succession: The Greenwich Ceiling 228 References 253 Select Bibliography 301 Acknowledgements 307 Photo Acknowledgements 308 Index 310