The Influence of Artemisia Gentileschi’s Self-Portraits

Need help with assignments?

Our qualified writers can create original, plagiarism-free papers in any format you choose (APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, etc.)

Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.

Click Here To Order Now

Introduction to Artemisia Gentileschi’s heritage

  • a famous Italian artist of the Baroque period
  • numerous debates over her works
  • considered a talented and professional artist
  • often treated as a mediocre painter
  • self-portraits as a significant part of her artistic heritage
  • self-portraits popular among feminist supporters
  • impact of self-portraits on the feminist movement

Life of Artemisia Gentileschi

  • Born in Rome in 1593
  • Lost mother at a very young age
  • Impact of mother’s death on her life
  • Brought up by the father-painter
  • Raped as a teenager, my father’s colleague
  • a first female member of Accademia di Arte del Disegno (Florence)

Style of Artemisia Gentileschi’s artworks

  • influenced by the style of Caravaggio
  • portraits characterized with the naturalism of figures
  • typically dramatic scenes
  • prevalent application of chiaroscuro technique
  • no specific art education
  • impact of the rape trauma (Dačić, 2015).

Evaluation of Artemisia’s early works, Florentine period

  • Evident evolution of the art of painting
  • Self-portraits of high-level skill
  • Revolutionary perceptions formed by the social environment
  • Representations of revolutionary perceptions in paintings
  • Concentration on women’s inner strength
  • of her early works: Judith and Her Maidservant (Endres, 2013).

Themes and plots in works of Artemisia Gentileschi

  • Frequent use of biblical subjects
  • the theme of a strong and confident woman
  • Heroic and strong female characters
  • Paintings driven by artist’s memory
  • Representation of a female protagonist
  • Implementation of vision of women in self-portraits

Self-portraits as representations of an artist

  • Few self-portraits remained safe
  • The popular image of a female artist
  • Woman with Lute, Female Martyr – examples of self-perception
  • Protest against male domination in art

Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting is – depiction of Artemisia

  • The theme of the invisible painting
  • Natural, restrained manner of the depiction of herself
  • Emphasis on the creation of a piece of art
  • Demonstration of a protest against gender stereotype
  • Creation of revolutionary canvas depicting female artists
  • The challenge to a public familiar with male artists

Woman with Lute and Female Martyr

  • Depiction of a female artist – musician
  • Attention to the confidence of a musician
  • Demonstration of the experience of the artist
  • Appeal to women’s sacrificial mature
  • Representation of traditional feminine features
  • Bright colors, soft shades, and natural curves

Venetian period of artistic work

  • The significant impact of Caravaggio’s heritage
  • Influence of a classic manner typical of the 17th century
  • Less intensive artistic work
  • Works: The Sleeping Venus, Esther, and Ahasuerus

Naples period of artistic life

  • It covers the second part of Gentileschi’s career
  • More grace and self-consciousness in works
  • The impact of the artist’s recognition
  • Absence of need for competition with male colleagues
  • Period of maturation and important works
  • Works: Virgin and Child with a Rosary, Susanna and the elders (Dačić, 2015).

Role of Artemisia Gentileschi in the feminist movement

  • Establishment of women’s liberation movement
  • Success as an artist significant for feminism
  • Feminist interpretation of her self-portraits
  • Protest against traditional male dominance in art
  • The image of a rebellious woman
  • Depiction of a female able to overcome obstacles (Conn, 2015)

Conclusions

  • Prominent impact on the contemporary feminist community
  • Significance of self-portraits
  • Innovative approaches and ideas
  • Impact on the history of art
  • Ideas continued by supporters and followers.

References

Conn, Virginia L. (2015). The personal is the political: Artemisia Gentileschi’s revolutionary Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting. Kaleidoscope, 8(1), 6.

Dačić, A. (2015). Artemisia Gentileschi – From facts and fiction to feminist inspiration. Web.

Endres, A. L. (2013). Painting Lucretia: Fear and desire a feminist discourse on representations by Artemisia Gentileschi and Tintoretto (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Need help with assignments?

Our qualified writers can create original, plagiarism-free papers in any format you choose (APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, etc.)

Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.

Click Here To Order Now