A Brilliant Baroque Painter and an Indomitable Spirit
Her story is moving: From her rape at 17, to her original style and the strength she needed to survive as an artist in a man’s world.
Self Portrait as the Allegory of Painting
Chances are you may never have heard of Artemisa Gentileschi, a long overlooked Baroque artist. Born in 1593, she is now considered one of the most accomplished painters of her generation.
She will be the focus of our next Extraordinary Women event on Sunday, April 14, 11 a.m., at the Revue Cinema. We will be showing a documentary, followed by a discussion with art historian Gerta Moray and and history professor Elizabeth Cohen.
The daughter of an artist, Artemisia gained international recognition for her work at a time when women faced virtually insurmountable barriers. She was known for her abilities with colour, her realistic depiction of the female form and the powerful, visceral scenes of strong women from mythological and biblical stories.
At the age of 17, Artemisia was raped by her tutor. When he failed to marry her, her father pressed charges in what became a traumatic well-documented court case. Artemisia was tortured with a thumbscrew to assess if she was telling the truth. Her tutor, who was not subjected to the same torture, was supposed to be exiled from Rome, but the sentence was never carried out.
Artemisia’s story is fascinating, and the discussion promises to be lively.
OUR GUEST SPEAKERS:
Gerta Moray, research scholar, consultant and lecturer in art history, returns for this next Extraordinary Women event to share her expertise. Among her specialities are women’s art and feminist theory, Canadian art and modern and contemporary art. She is Professor Emerita of Guelph University.
Elizabeth Cohen, history professor at York University and U of T, has focused her research on women and gender in early modern Italy. She has written about Artemisia, including her trial and her letters.
TICKETS:
Tickets are $10 on Eventbrite (plus service charge) and $15 at the Revue Cinema door.