In 1611, at the age of 17, Artemisia was raped by the painter Agostino Tassi, an acquaintance and collaborator of her father’s, apparently brought in to teach her perspective. Artemisia’s fame rests as much on her biography as it does on her artistic achievements: not only was she an extremely successful female artist – a rarity in 17th-century Italy – but she was also the victim of sexual violence. Artemisia’s earliest signed and dated painting, ‘Susanna and the Elders’ (Schloss Weißenstein collection, Pommersfelden, Germany), is from 1610. Standard admission. We are fortunate enough to have one of the strongest collections of Italian Baroque paintings in the world, with masterpieces by many of the leading artists of the time, and yet there is a scarcity of paintings by women artists in the National Gallery. Where do you start when relining the canvas of a 17th century painting and why is relining the painting so important? Artemisia shows herself in the guise of the 4th-century martyr Saint Catherine of Alexandria. How do you choose a frame for a 17th century painting that's never had one? Artemisia Gentileschi's turbulent life story often overshadows her art, but she was the most celebrated female artist of the 17th century There she had five children and established herself as an independent artist, becoming the first woman to gain membership to the Academy of the Arts of Drawing in 1616.
The story of European art, masterpiece by masterpiece. There followed an infamous trial in 1612, in which Artemisia was subjected to gruelling questioning and torture. Explore why Artemisia is the 'magnificent exception' with curator Letizia Treves. Read the story of Artemisia's journey to become one of the greatest storytellers of her time. The precise date of her death is not known but a recently discovered document records her still living in Naples in August 1654. Find out with Conservators Paul Ackroyd and Lynne Harrison.
Watch as Artemisia Gentileschi's 'Self Portrait of Saint Catherine of Alexandria' goes on display in the Gallery for the first time ever in Central Hall. Sentenced to death by the emperor Maxentius, Catherine was bound to revolving wheels studded with iron spikes. The inspiration for this exhibition is the National Gallery’s recent acquisition of Artemisia Gentileschi’s Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria (about 1615–17), the first painting by the artist to enter a UK public collection. In March 2019, the painting went on a nationwide tour, Artemisia Visits, to unusual and unexpected venues including a GP surgery, girls' school, and prison.
Members see all exhibitions for free – become a Member Book online in advance. Sentenced to death by the emperor Maxentius, Catherine was bound to revolving wheels studded with iron spikes.