ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI
Scandal, Beauty, Violence + Resilience
The long-awaited Artemisia Gentileschi exhibition at the National Gallery in London is finally here. It will be open to the public from October 3rd, 2020, to January 24th, 2021, in the Sainsbury Wing of the museum. Never before has there been an exhibit of this scale at the National Gallery dedicated to a female artist. A few days after opening, it is already one of the hottest topics of conversation in the art world and earning rave reviews from visitors and critics.
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656) is not just one of the few women artists who could make a name for themselves when the art world was completely and utterly male-dominated. She is also considered one of the most accomplished artists of her time. She is well-known for her masterful use of Chiaroscuro and the strong female presence in her works (hers are some of the few representations of the female body in museums done by a woman.) Her father influenced her technique and style. He was also an artist who took inspiration from Caravaggio. Artemisia was the first woman to join the Accademia di Arte del Disegno (Academy of Design), in Florence. Her powerful depictions of women (especially biblical figures,) like Judith Slaying Holofernes (1612-13), are some of the earliest feminist imagery in art. It makes Artemisia a fundamental model of female empowerment during the Baroque era (I have a vivid memory of how fascinated I was the first time I learned about her in an Art History class.) Some of the works featured in the show are Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria (1615-17), Judith and her Maidservant (1623-5), Judith Slaying Holofernes (1612-13 and 1613-14), Susannah and the Elders (1610), Jael and Sisera (1620), and many more. As previously noted, Gentileschi is recognized for a strong female presence in her paintings, and over 90% of her works present women as the main character and equal to men.
The show does not just showcase her breathtaking 17th-century Baroque works. It includes her letters and a more than 400-year-old transcript from her rapist Agostino Tassi’s trial (the transcript is an additional loan to the museum following the exhibit’s postponement and displayed in public for the first time.) She is also an example of a woman overshadowed by a man who wanted to take advantage of her. He was an older artist who worked with her father. Artemisia was only seventeen at the time, and the incident influenced the way art historians talk about her to this day. But despite having gone through trauma, she was a strong, determined woman. Her letters offer visitors a deeper understanding of who she was.
The show, titled “Artemisia,” is curated by Letizia Treves, who has stated, “Artemisia was a survivor. She overcame rape, torture, humiliation and prejudice to become one of the most successful artists of her time. I was bitterly disappointed when we had to postpone the exhibition but I’m enormously grateful to our lenders for enabling it to go ahead. It’s been a long time coming, but Artemisia will finally get her moment in the spotlight and I can’t wait to share her story and paintings with visitors.” Surprisingly, it has taken so long for her (or any other great female artist) to have an exhibition dedicated to her in London. If you are in the area, visiting this exhibition is an experience you definitely will not regret.
