Artemisia Gentileschi
The scene presented in today's painting is one of the most popular among Baroque artists because of its high drama. The narrative is taken from the Biblical Book of Judith, in which Judith seduces and then murders the general Holofernes to save her people. This precise moment illustrates the maidservant Abra wrapping the severed head in a bag moments after the murder while Judith keeps watch.
Artemisia Gentileschi, the artist who painted it, was a strong woman who, against all odds, established herself as a respected painter. Some art historians interpret this painting (and three others with this scene painted by Gentileschi) as a version of retaliation from the artist's personal life. In 1612, Artemisia, who was a teenage daughter of Orazio Gentileschi (an established artist), accused Agostino Tassi (a fellow painter of her father) of rape and tricking her out of a painting from her father's studio. The resulting trial lasted seven months and shocked Rome. It made Gentileschi a celebrity, but in the worst possible way. Tassi was convicted but nothing really happened to him. After the trial, Artemisia continued her artistic career and kept painting the expressive strength of her Biblical heroines and paintings in which the women are interpreted as willing to manifest their rebellion against their condition.
Today is International Women's Day, and we hope you enjoy this amazing painting of one of the geniuses of Baroque art.
P.S. This painting is also featured in our Women Artists Notebook!
P.P.S. Artemisia Gentileschi's art was heavily influenced by the style of Caravaggio, to a point where it's sometimes hard to distinguish between their paintings. Are you up for the challenge? Can you guess which painter created these paintings? Test yourself in our quiz!
P.P.P.S. For more art of Gentileschi, see the articles below!