ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593- circa 1654) is recognised as the first female painter in the history of art. Trained by her father in Rome, admitted to the Academy of Drawing in Florence and receiving an increasing number of commissions, she was the first artist to make a living from her work. Defying the custom that reserved portraiture solely for women, she produced some remarkable history paintings, including the striking Judith Beheading Holofernes, inspired by Caravaggio.

In addition to a personal history punctuated by tragedy, this monograph presents Artemisia at work with her patrons, in the artistic circles that surrounded her and in her successive places of residence, from Rome to Naples, via Florence, Venice and London. The book brings together all the artist's paintings authenticated to date, as well as restored works and previously unpublished works, including The Roman Charity.