Focus on Self-Portrait as a Female Martyr and explore the History.
This painting is a Baroque artwork. In the seventeenth century, Baroque could be seen as any medium of art from painting, sculpting, ceramics, to many more. Baroque art is also used in many Catholic settings, such as churches, and is used in public domains. The art represented important moments in the Bible that were revered, and artists would be hired to paint certain saints. The goal was to have the onlookers be filled with emotion while looking at the pieces. Baroque art was even used in political religious settings. This particular baroque painting is believed to have been made during the artist's time in Florence, based on both the appearance as well as some supplier records discovered in archives. The date is recorded as 1614 but since the new year in Florence did not begin until March the date is technically 1615. The work is signed "Artemisia Lomi", the name she assumed while working in Florence to associate herself with her uncle Aurelio Lomi, who had already established a reputation there. Yael Evan mentions that Gentileschi desired to be treated as if she was a male painter. During this time period, women were not allowed into any academy of arts. Being seen as a male painter in that century would have been a great honor.The artist, Gentileschi painted this portrait depicting herself as a female martyr when she was twenty-two. Helen Clements describes Gentileschi’s painting as portraying herself in a gentle and more intimate manner. Clements commented on the way Gentileschi looked in the painting mentioning that the women looks very soft. There is no pity emitting from the painting. Clements examines the theory that Gentileschi was painting herself as a martyr saint to reflect how she felt when she was raped as a teenager years before. She concludes that Gentileschi's portraits revealed that she did not want to have her past be one of pity and dismay; she denounces the theory that Gentileschi painted herself as a martyr only because of her famous past. Susanna Scarparo portrays Gentileschi as a painter that struggled to be recognized for her skill in the arts rather than being famous for what happened to her in her past. She critiques how previous writing on Gentileschi focused on this rather than her artwork. Gentileschi is one of only a few famous female artists recognized in the 17th century and the first Italian women to specialize in Italian painting. Gentileschi's one of many great achievements was being the first women to join Florence’s Academy of Design. Over the years Gentileschi has made many self-portraits and painted mostly only women in different environments, but only one of her as a martyr.
Bible Florence martyr Baroque Aurelio Lomi