The figure of Artemisia Gentileschi is rediscovered and freed from the usual definitions that confine her to a Caravaggesque style and genre painting. In this catalogue, published by Scripta Maneant Editore, she is celebrated for her historical and artistic importance, not only as the first woman in the history of art to achieve international fame, but as a prominent figure in the art market, on par with her male contemporaries. As the author, Asia Graziano, states “Artemisia is not the helpless and frightened victim seeking to overcome trauma through artistic catharsis, but a tireless professional, determined, proud, and confident in herself and her art, with which she surpasses tradition and challenges its greatest exponents”. The volume is enriched with texts by Claudio Strinati, Gregory Buchakjian, and Sheila Barker. Completing the publication is a wealth of images that f ill the pages, a rich archive of works including previously unseen pieces, rediscovered masterpieces, items from private collections, and debated attributions. At the heart of the book is not the usual romanticized biography of Artemisia, but a formidable historical and critical study. For the first time, the artist is presented in her entirety, recognized for her talent and true worth. Not simply a great woman, but a great painter and entrepreneur of herself, whose strength transcended gender boundaries and socio-economic limitations.
