Artemisia Gentileschi

Baroque-era painter who shattered gender barriers in 17th-century art world

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656) emerged as the first female artist to gain international recognition in post-Renaissance Europe. Daughter of painter Orazio Gentileschi, she developed a bold chiaroscuro style surpassing her male contemporaries. Her 1610 'Susanna and the Elders' - painted when she was 17 - revolutionized biblical narratives through female perspective.

After surviving a highly publicized rape trial in 1612, Artemisia created her iconic 'Judith Slaying Holofernes', displaying unprecedented psychological intensity. Unlike passive female figures typical of the era, her heroines exhibit active agency and physical power. She became the first woman admitted to Florence's Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in 1616.

Artemisia's career spanned Naples, London, and papal Rome, collaborating with Van Dyck and influencing Caravaggio's followers. Modern feminist scholars hail her as the first #MeToo artist, with recent exhibitions at London's National Gallery (2020) confirming her lasting impact. Her works now command prices exceeding $5 million, redefining art history's patriarchal narrative.