Postponed Artemisia Gentileschi exhibition now open at the National Gallery

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, March 29, 2024


Postponed Artemisia Gentileschi exhibition now open at the National Gallery
A gallery assitant poses a painting titled 'Judith beheading Holofernes' by Italian Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi during a photocall to preview the new Artemisia exhibition at the National Gallery in London on September 29, 2020. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP.



LONDON.- One of the biggest disappointments resulting from the National Gallery's shutdown for 111 days due to coronavirus was the postponement of the eagerly anticipated major monographic exhibition exploring the work of Artemisia Gentileschi (originally scheduled for 4 April – 26 July 2020).

For the first time in the UK, a major monographic exhibition explores the work of Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–1654 or later).

The inspiration for this exhibition is the National Gallery’s acquisition of Artemisia’s Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria (about 1615–17), the first painting by the artist to enter a UK public collection.

At a time when women artists were not easily accepted, Artemisia was exceptional. Her career spanned more than forty years and she gained fame and admiration across Europe, counting leading rulers among her patrons. She was the first woman to gain membership to the artists’ academy in Florence.

Although Artemisia was greatly admired during her lifetime, she was essentially rediscovered in the 20th century. Certain elements of her biography – particularly her rape as a young woman and the torture she endured during the trial that followed – have sometimes overshadowed discussions about her artistic achievements, but today she is recognised as one of the most gifted painters of the Italian Baroque period. Her art and life continue to inspire novels, films, documentaries, musical and theatrical productions.

'Artemisia' presents a highly selective survey of the artist’s career, bringing together around thirty of her works from both public institutions and private collections around the world, along with letters and contemporary documents - the majority of the loans in the exhibition have never been seen in the UK before.




There is also an additional loan that joined the exhibition – the original transcript of the trial in which the artist Agostino Tassi is charged with ‘deflowering’ Artemisia Gentileschi (1612), on loan from the Archivio di Stato, Rome.

This is the first time the transcript has ever been seen in public, despite it being referred to frequently in discussions concerning Artemisia's early life in Rome and in relation to her rape and the subsequent trial.

Original transcription of the trial
The transcript of the trial, written partly in Latin but with spoken responses noted verbatim in Italian, is being displayed with its pages open at Monday 14 May 1612. Artemisia has been brought to face Tassi at the Tor di Nona prison in Rome. The officials, generally sympathetic to the Gentileschis’ cause, ask Artemisia if she is willing to confirm her earlier statement under ‘judicial torture’. This was an accepted means by which testimonies could be incontrovertibly established as ‘true’. Artemisia, understanding the necessity of this ordeal to validate her claims, agrees to comply: ‘Yes sir I am ready to confirm my testimony again under torture and wherever necessary.’

The torture chosen was the 'sibille', a system of cords looped around the fingers and tightened. As the prison guard administers the torture, Artemisia utters the famous words: ‘È vero è vero è vero’ (‘It is true, it is true, it is true, it is true.’)

Along with a number of her recently discovered personal letters (Archivio Storico Frescobaldi, Florence), which have been especially conserved for the show, the trial transcript offers visitors an opportunity to ‘hear’ Artemisia’s voice and enable us to appreciate her vulnerability, wit and resilience.

The exhibition is curated by Letizia Treves, the National Gallery James and Sarah Sassoon Curator of Later Italian, Spanish, and French 17th-century Paintings. She says: 'Artemisia was a survivor. She overcame rape, torture, humiliation and prejudice to become one of the most successful artists of her time. I was bitterly disappointed when we had to postpone the exhibition but I’m enormously grateful to our lenders for enabling it to go ahead. It's been a long time coming, but Artemisia will finally get her moment in the spotlight and I can't wait to share her story and paintings with visitors.'

Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, says: 'I am thrilled that Artemisia will open to the public in October after the coronavirus postponement. It will be a revelation for many to discover her powerful paintings and to get to know her story both from her art and from the biographical documents that will be seen in public for the first time.'










Today's News

October 5, 2020

Postponed Artemisia Gentileschi exhibition now open at the National Gallery

Britain's Royal Opera House to sell Hockney painting to raise funds

Kenzo Takada, first Japanese designer to conquer Paris fashion, dies aged 81

Why this artist is paying bodegas with 120,000 pennies

The Städel Museum opens an exhibition of Netherlandish drawings of the eighteenth century

Extraordinary discovery of neurons in the vitrified brain of a victim of the 79 AD Vesuvian eruption

Victoria Miro announces representation of Paula Rego

Page Bond Gallery opens an exhibition of paintings and works on paper by Peri Schwartz

French star Jeanne Moreau's dresses to be sold

Phillips announces highlights from the October auctions of 20th Century & Contemporary Art in London

Initio Fine Arts opens exhibition of works by Anna Horváth and Reda Amalou

Rare 13th century Islamic gold coin estimated to fetch £200,000-300,000 at Morton & Eden

Exhibition considers artistic explorations of scale, material, and process

James Cohan now represents Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian

Oil painting by David Burliuk brings $39,100 at Weiss Auctions

Barack Obama's historic basketball jersey and Michelle Obama's iconic dress head to Julien's Auctions

Ideals of beauty, female figure explored in Nelson-Atkins exhibition

Virginia Bianchi Gallery opens an exhibition of works by artists Wednesday Kim and Giuliana Rosso

'Everything crossed over': Michael Clark's cheeky world of dance

Solo exhibition of new work by Rivane Neuenschwander on view at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery

Artcurial to offer over 1500 items from the Roméo Collection

Sotheby's announces highlights included in its inaugural annual "Halloween" Spirits sale

1948 Bristol 400 for sale with H&H Classics at the Imperial war museum Duxford

Bodleian Libraries celebrate visionary female photographer Helen Muspratt with retrospective




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful