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Inspiration From Artists Week 131 Featuring Artists : Gentilleschi and Grace Harrington.
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Message
Posted
Welcome to week 131 of the thread this weeks featuring artist are :
Gentilleschi and Grace Harrington.
Robert will open with his introduction to Gentilleschi and Wednesday lunchtime Martin will introduced us to the artwork of Grace Harrington.
I hope you all have a good week and enjoy the artwork featured .
Posted
Artemisia Gentileschi, 1593 - ca. 1656 (she may have died in the plague which hit Naples in that year) learned how to paint in her father's workshop, far outshining her brothers - her work stands comparison with Caravaggio's; and she was not the only woman artist of the period, but the most prominent. Her story has been taken up and co-opted by all kinds of speculative argument, and unsurprisingly, feminists have claimed her as one of their own, particularly since she survived a rape by a fellow artist - a story which has long hung over the name and reputation, and been used to explain the vengeful elements in some of her work, most of which reflects Bible stories - but then, the Bible is a very violent book; her rape, and subsequent torture with thumbscrews to compel or validate her evidence, may have had nothing to do with her subject matter - very hard to believe that she would not have been heavily influenced by it, but it also needs to be remembered that these were violent times (aren't they still....?) in which these stories and their contemporary parallels would have struck any strong-willed artist. As her rapist largely got away with it, it wouldn't be at all surprising if she took some pleasure in imagining him as Holofernes, having his head cut off: but - it remains speculation, all the same.
I'll try to find the painting shown by Carol - while writing this "live" as it were, I don't immediately recognize it.
David and Bathsheba
Lot and his daughters
Holofernes receiving his just desserts: not the actual title...
David and Bathsheba
Lot and his daughters
Holofernes receiving his just desserts: not the actual title...
Edited
by Robert Jones, NAPA
Posted
An interesting artist. Her subject matter often harsh and/or gruesome, she herself very badly treated by the legal system of the time. The thumbscrew business seems utterly mad to me, evil even, she was not the accused, but a witness, but the court applied the thumbscrews to verify her testimony!!
Here's a self portrait...
Another grim story that seems to have been painted by EVERYBODY. Susanna and the Elders. Here's her take on it...
Usually painted by male artists, it's interesting to see a woman's view on it, especially someone like her who suffered much the same injustice.
I came across another version of that posted by Carol...Judith and her maidservant (with that head.)
I must say these 'history' paintings don't appeal, they are very much of their time. It's different when you're in a gallery looking at the actual work, then you can appreciate the skills involved (not so with photos).
Another grim story that seems to have been painted by EVERYBODY. Susanna and the Elders. Here's her take on it...
Usually painted by male artists, it's interesting to see a woman's view on it, especially someone like her who suffered much the same injustice.
I came across another version of that posted by Carol...Judith and her maidservant (with that head.)
I must say these 'history' paintings don't appeal, they are very much of their time. It's different when you're in a gallery looking at the actual work, then you can appreciate the skills involved (not so with photos).
Posted
Her subjects don't appeal to me, either! Although - she had clearly seen dead bodies, to get that bleached, greenish hue so exactly. Paintings from classical myths and Biblical legends were popular at the time, though - the self-portrait that Lew has discovered suggests that many of her models of middle-aged women at least were versions of herself.
Her use of colour, form, anatomical detail, is what marks her out as a supremely talented artist; the world in which she lived was in every way a strange one to modern sensibilities.
Posted
An eye-watering introduction, Robert, cruel to say the least. Just goes to say how little women were thought of, not only then, through history.
I read many years ago when women's art was making headway only a number would be issued to the artist and their work was never with the main exhibits.
We've come a long way, in that respect.
You've chosen an interesting artist, one I will be looking into, further.
Thankyou Lewis for posting another painting with the head. I feel the mood of the ladies within the second painting has a more strident stance to it. The ladies seem very bold especially more so with the sword placed in a jaunty manner on the shoulder. Much to read in both paintings.
Posted
Another I like is this. Whether it has been presented as a monochromatic image or the Grisaille method has been used, I don't know.
A lady at her painting. Being painted or a self portrait? I'd like to think she is the artist and saying - I am a sensual woman and yes I can paint as good as any man, also.
Edited
by Carol Jones
Posted
Superb work and as we know paintings of the time tended to be dramatic and often have a biblical theme running through them. They are paintings meant to tell a story. You can see the obvious Caravaggio influence running through them and I should imagine she had much involvement with Caravagio as her father was his friend. She was a talented and strong painter and the first women to enter the Florence Academy. Not everyone's cup of tea nonetheless it is skillful and masterful and she has her place in History.