Artemisia

Anna Banti’s novel about Artemisia Gentiles, published in 1947, returned a public interest in an outstanding Italian artist, a follower of Karavaggio. In the book, we will not find documentary accuracy and reliability in the presentation of the events of the heroine’s life, who has managed to melt the dramatic episodes of his own biography into the images of art. Rather, this is an attempt to recreate the inner world of such a bright personality and the historical context in which it could appear. The customers and patrons of Artemisia were European monks, students were students who recognized its unconditional priority in painting. The talent and strength of the spirit of the 17th century artist, which largely ahead of his time, also give an impression in our days.
Anna Banti - the pseudonym Lucy Lopteph (1895-1985), a famous writer, translator and art critic in Italy. Together with her husband, an eminent art historian and art critic Roberto Long, she founded and edited the authoritative art magazine Paragone. The novel dedicated to the artist of the XVII century, Artemisia Gentiles, was translated into several languages ​​and, along with the study of R. Longa, revived interest in her work.
Artemisia Gentiles is one of the best artists whose names have preserved the story. Her father, Orazio Gentleski, was an outstanding painter. Artemicia is an artist who opened the school of painting in Naples. Daring to go to heretical England. One of the first women, who affirmed the right to work in accordance with this nature, defending the equality of the mental abilities of both sexes