Artemisia Gentileschi and a Woman’s Fury

»I will show Your Illustrious Lordship what a woman can do.« Artemisia Gentileschi

She was a star – and she was notorious. Artemisia Gentileschi, born in 1593 in Rome, garnered attention in her early years for her talent as a painter. At 17, she suffered her first dramatic stroke of fate when she was raped by her teacher, forced to marry after a high-profile court case, and then had to leave Rome. But her trials and tribulations did not end there. She also survived volcanic eruptions, bankruptcy, and the plague. She made a name for herself as a painter and became the first woman ever to be admitted to the Academy of the Arts in Florence – before making a triumphant return to Rome. She received commissions from the Pope and the nobility, and maintained her own workshop until her death. Her works were no stiff still lifes or dutiful portraits – they brim with an inner force and a desire for revenge, a sense of pride and rebellion. And with an impressive belief in her abilities, she confidently demanded the same standing and prices for her art as her contemporary Velázquez.

In this biographical novel, Gabriela Jaskulla traces the path of this unique artist from Rome to London and Naples (via stops in Florence and Venice), sketching out the life of a courageous and powerful woman for whom giving up was never an option.