Have you ever heard of Artemisia Gentileschi? (She might have invented the “Me Too Movement” in 17th Century Italy)

Jul 27

Jul 27 Have you ever heard of Artemisia Gentileschi? (She might have invented the “Me Too Movement” in 17th Century Italy)

Born in 1593 in Rome, Artemisia was the eldest of five children and born to Orazio Gentileschi, a famous artist in his own right, who was determined to send his only daughter to the convent, despite her wishes to be a painter. It turned out Artemisia's determination was stronger than her father’s, for she won him over and he agreed to keep her home to teach her to paint.

Keep in mind what life was like for females in 17th century Italy: every part of their being was dictated by men. Six of the most vital traits for females, prescribed by men, were: chastity, silence, reticence, sobriety, and obedience. Freedom of body and mind was not an option for females, so we can only imagine Orazio’s initial reluctance to support Artemisia’s desire to paint, to exhibit her talent which, as any painter knows, demands an innate freedom to explore one’s mind--whether secretly or not.

Her first known work is Susanna and the Elders, 1610, a retelling of a story in the Book of Daniel about a young Hewbrew girl, Susanna, who is blackmailed for sex by men who spy on her while she is bathing. When Susanna courageously stands up to them, she is taken to trial and found innocent, and the men are executed.

The strange irony of Artemisia’s life occurs not long after she paints Susanna. Her father had hired Agostino Tassi as a tutor for her; Tassi then raped her. When Orazio found out that Tassi had raped his daughter but that he could not even force a marriage because Tassi was already married, the case went to court. Artemisia’s name and reputation were slandered (sound familiar?), she was called a liar and worse, but she persevered, refusing to give in. Tassi was convicted, but was free within a year.

What did Artemisia do next? She exercised the same perseverance. She moved to Florence, married a man she actually liked, a little known artist named, Pierantonio di Vincenzo Stiattesi, and continued to follow her passion: art.

Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1620-21, oil on canvas — Artemisia Gentileschi, *Judith Slaying Holofernes*, 1620-21, oil on canvas

“The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman.” These are the words of Judith, a young Jewish woman from Bethulia, when she describes her heroic act of slaying Holofernes, a general of the Assyrian army who had attacked her people and defeated her city. She found her way into enemy camp promising information to ensure Holofernes’s victory: “Holofernes was so enchanted with her that he drank far more wine than he had drunk on any other day in his life” (Judith 12:20). Judith said a prayer, and with the help of her maid, Abra, then took her revenge, slaying Holofernes and saving the people of Israel from total destruction.

Like the story of David and Goliath, Judith Slaying Holofernes was a popular story translated into art by Renaissance and Baroque painters, and to sit and study Artemisia’s interpretation of the story you understand why. I find this painting so captivating precisely because the subject matter is hard to look at, it is violent and bloody, there is real struggle, and yet you cannot draw your eyes away from its energy, its intensity, and power. Remembering the rape Artemisia had survived and the fact the man was not punished, one can imagine all of her wrath and own feelings of retribution were at work as she painted.

Not surprisingly, the painting was controversial and the Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici, who had commissioned the painting, had delayed payment, and only because of her loyal friend, the famous astronomer, Galileo Galilei, did she finally get paid for her work!

What happened next? Artemisia bore five children, became the most famous female painter of her time, and was the first woman to enter the Academy of Art and Design in Florence.

Perseverance, talent, spirit, hard work, and courage in a world dominated by men: Artemisia was a true feminist who would not back down, and her painting reflects this powerfully and beautifully.