Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1656)

Artemisia Gentileschi was an Italian Baroque painter, today considered one of the most accomplished painters in the generation following that of Caravaggio. In an era when female painters were not easily accepted by the artistic community or patrons, she was the first woman to become a member of the “Accademia di Arte del Disegno” in Florence and had international clientele. 

She specialized in painting pictures of strong and suffering women from myths, allegories and the Bible victims, suicides and warriors. Some of her best known themes are “Susanna and the Elders” ,  “Judith Slaying Holofernes” and “Judith and Her Maidservant”. Gentileschi  was known for being able to convincingly depict the female figure, anywhere between nude and fully clothed.

She was also famous for her skill and talent in handling color, both overall in the composition but also in building depth. For many years she was regarded as a curiosity. Today she is regarded as one of the most progressive and expressive painters of her generation.