October 21, 1649
Self portrait
Hello. My name is Artemisia Gentileschi and I am an early Baroque painter. I was born July 8, 1593 in Rome, Italy as the eldest daughter of Orazio Gentileschi. As a child, I was trained by my father in various forms of art. I studied drawing, mixing colors, and painting alongside my male siblings. Due to my father, I was heavily influenced by the work of Caravaggio. Similarly in his style, I strive throughout my life to convey more naturalistic approaches in my works.
Caravaggio's St. Matthew and the Angel
Unfortunately, due to my gender, I was denied entry to the all-male art academies. To this day, I still deplore society's distorted viewpoint of women. It brought me back to my 19th year. I can still recall the day I was violated by that wretch Agostino Tassi. The memory continues to haunt my mind... However, in my 23rd year, I became the first to be accepted to the Florentine Academy of Design. That day was a significant break through for me. It took me away from the horrors of my past to become stronger as an independent woman. My successful career as an artist began thereon.
It was November of 1612 when I married my husband, Pietro Antonio di Vincenzo Stiattesi. We moved to Florence and had my daughter Palmira. There, I worked under my patron, Grand Duke Cosimo II de Medici until 1621. During that time, I worked incessantly on various paintings of Judith of the Old Testament. That same year, I moved to Genoa with my father. There, I was able to complete my Lucretia and Cleopatra. At the same time, I was able to meet some of the most amazing artists of my time, including Sofonisba Anguissola. She was an amazing woman, one of the best of the few female painters of the age...
I soon returned to Rome, living with my daughters and two servants. Unfortunately, Pietro and i split apart and lost contact... Despite that, I met French artist, Pierre Dumonstier le Neveu. He flattered me with a sketch quoting me as, "...the wise and noble woman of Rome..."
Pierre Dumonstier le Neveu My Hand 1625
A few years later, I moved to Naples and remained there til 1638. I completed my self-portrait, as shown in the beginning above, as well as The Annunciation, and a second Cleopatra and Lucretia. The time was not as easy as I could have been for my daughter's wedding was depriving the household of money. I had great difficulty finding another patron for some urgently needed commission. At last, I landed at the English court of Charles I along with my father to decorate the ceiling of the Casa delle Delizie of Queen Henrietta Maria. It was a significant project that I literally could not refuse, for i was called personally by the King. My father suddenly died in 1639. It was a time of tremendous grief. However, I was profusely occupied with numerous commissions I had to fulfill and I knew I must move on.
I left England in 1642 and from thereon, I worked with my mentor Don Antonio Ruffo in Naples. We are still in correspondence and now I have the help of my assistant, Onofrio Palumbo.
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