Artemisia Gentileschi and Feminism in Early Modern Europe

by Mary D. Garrard

Artemisia Gentileschi is by far the most famous woman artist of the premodern era. Her art addressed issues that resonate today, such as sexual violence and women’s problematic relationship to political power. Her powerful paintings with vigorous female protagonists chime with modern audiences, and she is celebrated by feminist critics and scholars.
 
This book breaks new ground by placing Gentileschi in the context of women’s political history. Mary D. Garrard, noted Gentileschi scholar, shows that the artist most likely knew or knew about contemporary writers such as the Venetian feminists Lucrezia Marinella and Arcangela Tarabotti. She discusses recently discovered paintings, offers fresh perspectives on known works, and examines the artist anew in the context of feminist history. This beautifully illustrated book gives for the first time a full portrait of a strong woman artist who fought back through her art.

Genres: Art, History, Feminism, Nonfiction, Art History, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2020

About the author

Mary DuBose Garrard (born 1937) is an American art historian and emerita professor at American University. Best known for her groundbreaking feminist scholarship, Garrard has drawn on feminist theory and activism to illuminate and reinterpret art of the Italian Renaissance-Baroque period. Her publications include two books and other writings on Artemisia Gentileschi, work that pioneered modern scholarship on a major 17th century Italian artist; and her most recent book, Brunelleschi’s Egg: Nature, Art and Gender in Renaissance Italy (2010). With Norma Broude, she co-edited four books on feminism and art history that have become basic texts in American universities; and co-curated the recent exhibition Claiming Space: Some American Feminist Originators for the AU Museum, Katzen Arts Center. Garrard has lectured extensively on Renaissance art, feminist art, and feminist issues in universities, colleges and museums across the country. She was one of the leaders of the feminist movement in art professions, and was the second national President of Women's Caucus for Art.

Reviews

[Lilah Sanchez]

I actually enjoyed this book a lot. I read it casually, only because I'm incredibly interested in Artemisia's life, and in contrast to much academic writing, I found it easy to follow, contemporary and fresh.
I understood what the author and Artemisia meant, and I saw myself reflected in a woman who lived centuries before me. It was well structured and beautifully paced, especially if you're not as familiar with Artemisia's life. The contemporary references provide a link, a thread between our time and hers that prove the enduring, deeply-rooted experience of womanhood in a patriarchal society, and so cementing the book's thesis as fact.
Reading this was an incredibly stimulating experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the intersection between gender and art.

[ana]

Idk how to rate things okay
Good stuff!!! Very good

[Apoorva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-written and fun to read: I learnt loads and more importantly, it motivated me to read up more on women during the Italian renaissance. I see that it can be criticised for too much liberty of interpretation, but I see that as part of its creation of feminist genealogies and I’m quite happy.

[Thomasin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read if you're at all interested in Artemisia Gentileschi's art or early feminism in Europe (especially Italy, France and England). All the chapters are enlightening from a historical perspective, but the early chapters especially make a powerful argument for why Artemisia's art still seems so relevant and fresh.

[Dante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genialnie połączona historia artystki z kontekstem kulturowym o którym się zazwyczaj nie usłyszy

[Willemijn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you're ready to learn more about Artemisia Gentileschi and early modern European paintings.
The book discovers the influence of female painters in early modern Europe through the storyline of Artemisia Gentileschi.
Starting as a biography on Gentileschi, but slowly more feminist concepts and imagery become visible through paintings with hidden (feminist) messages at European courts.
The author is aware of the anachronism of using feminism in this time period. She shows the ways in which women tried to show their knowledge, skills and power.