Comments on: Feel Art Again: “Judith Beheading Holofernes”

By: Joanna Foley

Joanna Foley — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:45:44 +0000

I’m interested in the posst by lizTA, a descendant of the “French Troubadour, Nicholas Lanier.” She reports that Artemisia had an affair with Lanier when they met at the court of Charles I. My impression from various sources is that Nicholas Lanier the Younger learned some of his painting skills from Artemisia. Tell us more about this possible affair. J-win

By: Jessy

Jessy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:36:04 +0000

Andrea,
I’m an art historian, and it a hard-learned lesson that many scholars have had to learn in a very public, embarrassing manner. (If you think that message threads on the internet are bad, you should see what can happen at at research conferences. Yuck.) I appreciate the work that you do in writing your posts, as it is difficult to find an outlet in which one can freely write about any art whatsoever. It is obvious that you have researched the information for your posts, however, I think it would be nice, in addition to the links you provide, to add a few of the other sources from which you gleaned information into some sort of “if you’re interested in reading more…” section. I only mention the “if you’re reading more…” for the sake of the enquiring mind, and a few students i have tutored.

By: Megan

Megan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:23:29 +0000

This was a great installment, thanks for choosing Artemesia! (And I totally second Judy Chicago)

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:45:36 +0000

Andrea,

This was a great post! I’ve been hoping to see Artemesia in here, so I’m glad to see someone suggested her. She was an amazing woman and a very talented artist. If you’re looking to do another modern artist, you might want to try Eva Hesse. Her work definitely isn’t to everyone’s taste, but again she’s a very interesting woman and a pioneer in her field. Or Judy Chicago! Also very cool. Ok, I’ll stop here.

By: lizTA

lizTA — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:32:17 +0000

“Judith and Holofernes” was a common theme at the time. She also did a painting of “Susanna and the Elders” with several historians linking a likeness of one of the male’s to resembling Tassi, but as it was painted in 1610 the alleged likeness to Tassi is ironic at best. I have a B.A. in art history and have had to study the artist as well as the rape trail rather extensively. Interesting sidenote, after leaving her husband, Gentileschi went to work for the English royal family as a portrait artist, and had an affair with a French troubadour named Nicholas Lanier who I’m descended from. Not quite as cool as being related to someone famous…but we take what we get.

By: Jared Probst

Jared Probst — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 07:12:22 +0000

Like a knife through warm butter.

By: Andréa

Andréa — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:42:24 +0000

Jessy: The “Feel Art Again” posts aren’t meant to be full biographies or provide in-depth analysis of the artwork, but merely to point out interesting aspects of the artists’ lives and about their works. In the many sources I read, none mentioned other rapes, and several stated that she was the first woman to survive solely on the money from her art.

By: Jessy

Jessy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:06:29 +0000

While I respect your eagerness to post about art, I think that you’ve left out some important details of Genteleschi’s career.

1)During her time as an apprentice to a master painter, and her various apprenticeships between master workshops, she was raped more than once, and hated the inferior position in which she found herself among men. A comparison of her Holofernes with that of Caravaggio might have made her vengeful treatment of him more clear.

2)The accompanying work, Judith with a Maidservant, actually shows the “after” scene of the beheading, with her depositing the his into a basket by candlelight. The contrast between her heroine Judith, and the horrified maidservant, also shows the influence of Genteleschi’s experiences. I can’t believe that it was missed.

3) Artemesia wasn’t the first to “make her living” off her brush. Sofonisba Anguissola was also a famous Renaissance artist who did much the same, though she was taught by her father, thus not ever raped.

By: Marissa (Mental FLoss)

Marissa (Mental FLoss) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:23:53 +0000

I love Artemisia’s artwork and even did a report on her work in high school. They say that the Holofernes in her paintings bears a close resemblance to Tassi, her alleged rapist. Hmm.

By: Marissa (Mental Floss)

Marissa (Mental Floss) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:19:47 +0000

I love Artemisia’s work and even did a report on her when I was in high school. They say that the Holofernes in her paintings bears a very strong resemblance to Tassi, her alleged rapist…