SUPERWOMAN
After the three week isolation in La Roche-Posay, as much as I had seen of the region and visited interesting medieval sites, I was hungry for Paris. My intention had been of going to see a modern art exhibition before meeting Artemisia again. Again ? Yes I had «met» her some five years ago in Rome. Then «she» seemed to follow me. I was lent a book on her life...which didn’t over enthrall me. My next encounter was in Naples 18 months ago.
Even if my understanding of Italian was limited to say the least, the guide who introduced me to her «again» was passionate about his subject. As is always the case, such passion flows over onto me. The first woman painter to be recognized in the 17th century. What fascinated me the most was how could a woman, illiterate, passionate, living in a world of men become a super star? Or, as our guide Claude said today, «a superwoman»?
She was born in 1593. The eldest in a family of sons - 4. It must have been at a very early age that he father, a famous painter of that period, Orazio Gentileschi, taught her how to grind the colours for his painting. Her mother died when she was 12 so along with the chores of looking after her family, grinding the colours for her father and running a household, she was also to become a very famous artist.
It’s difficult to imagine what her life must have been like in those early years. Young women were not permitted to go out unchaperoned so the men who must have admired her, saw her in her father's workshop. One such man was Agostino Tassi, a collaborator of her father, who finally raped her when she was 18. Her father took him to court and Tassi was charged but never served sentenced. Artemisia married a wealthy Florentine solicitor and they went to live in Florence.
Undoubtedly a marriage of convenience and to save face as Artemisia has lovers, paints them, is openly with them. Even we were told today that her husband writes to her most famous lover, Francesco Maria Maringhi informing him that she can’t see him as she is working too hard. Imagine such a story in this day and age.
Rape may not have been such a «dishonorable» occurrence in the 17th century, especially if the poor girl was married rapidly and the act could be overlooked. However you see it for a woman it must be a ghastly experience. Many of her early work is blood thirsty and cruel.
Then there is her Caravaggesque approach, an eye for detail in drapery, lace, pleating and a sensuality in the body which is extraordinary for a woman who has gone through so much. Her nudes must have been quite scandalous. Yet her Danae has a cynical touch. Zeus does come to sprinkle the golden rain which would make her pregnant with Perseus but this is not rain but golden coins. There is a servant with her apron cupped to catch whatever she can and Danae fist, and legs are clenched as if to shield such an impregnation and gather the coins herself.
Her life took her to Venice, London, Naples - «internationally" renowned and accepted in her own rights. An equal to any artist around her. She signs some of her work in the latter years, has her own workshop and students. Also what is fascinating is that she did a lot of preparatory drawings for her work allowing her to repeat a painting in singular detail and yet the painting can still look quite different.
She dies in 1654 and we lose touch of her until 1916 when she was rediscovered by a Roberto Longhi an Italian scholar and art lover.
I am glad she came into my life. What would Artemiia have thought of about women today ?
Even if my understanding of Italian was limited to say the least, the guide who introduced me to her «again» was passionate about his subject. As is always the case, such passion flows over onto me. The first woman painter to be recognized in the 17th century. What fascinated me the most was how could a woman, illiterate, passionate, living in a world of men become a super star? Or, as our guide Claude said today, «a superwoman»?
She was born in 1593. The eldest in a family of sons - 4. It must have been at a very early age that he father, a famous painter of that period, Orazio Gentileschi, taught her how to grind the colours for his painting. Her mother died when she was 12 so along with the chores of looking after her family, grinding the colours for her father and running a household, she was also to become a very famous artist.
It’s difficult to imagine what her life must have been like in those early years. Young women were not permitted to go out unchaperoned so the men who must have admired her, saw her in her father's workshop. One such man was Agostino Tassi, a collaborator of her father, who finally raped her when she was 18. Her father took him to court and Tassi was charged but never served sentenced. Artemisia married a wealthy Florentine solicitor and they went to live in Florence.
Undoubtedly a marriage of convenience and to save face as Artemisia has lovers, paints them, is openly with them. Even we were told today that her husband writes to her most famous lover, Francesco Maria Maringhi informing him that she can’t see him as she is working too hard. Imagine such a story in this day and age.
Rape may not have been such a «dishonorable» occurrence in the 17th century, especially if the poor girl was married rapidly and the act could be overlooked. However you see it for a woman it must be a ghastly experience. Many of her early work is blood thirsty and cruel.
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| Yael and Sisra |
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| Judith and the servant |
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| The muse |
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| Portrait of a woman sitting |
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| As herself |
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| Danaé |
Her life took her to Venice, London, Naples - «internationally" renowned and accepted in her own rights. An equal to any artist around her. She signs some of her work in the latter years, has her own workshop and students. Also what is fascinating is that she did a lot of preparatory drawings for her work allowing her to repeat a painting in singular detail and yet the painting can still look quite different.
She dies in 1654 and we lose touch of her until 1916 when she was rediscovered by a Roberto Longhi an Italian scholar and art lover.
I am glad she came into my life. What would Artemiia have thought of about women today ?
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