Reviews (3)

Just Read the Paintings for yourself
If you want to travel into the mind of Artemisia Gentileschi, as Garrard obviously did, this book is an incredible asset to your journey.She takes you through Artemisia's life (Rome, Florence, Naples etc.) from the very first information to her death.Garrard has her ideas, but they are hardly overtly feminist or out of context.The intelligent reader goes beyond the author anyhow and reads the paintings.This book has copies of every known letter to have been written or received by Artemisia and most of her artwork, her complete rape trial, along with comparisons to her father's work and other artists that she had contact with.It is extremely fascinating and a more complete anayalis of an artist's life that I have yet seen. ...and about Susanna- don't tell me for a minute that the woman who painted that strength of repulsion wasn't being threatened (not necessarily by Tassi but likely Cosimo or even Francesco- think about it) have you ever seen a Susanna that genuinely apalled? Most renditions of the tale feature fear, surprise, or complete oblivion (allure even).Her Susanna is truly defensive and angry; horrified and disgusted.

20th century psychology applied to a 17th century persona
It's entirely unfortunate that Garrard has come to be considered the be-all-end-all of Gentilleschi scholarship.While the hefty opus features a wealth of research and a moderately well-illustrated span of pages, Garrard's feminist arguments do not line up. Citing the artist's "rape" by Tassi as a motivating force in the creation of her paintings featuring strong female characters, Garrard corners much of her argument on the Susanna and the Elders Gentilleschi painted a full year before the encounter with Tassi.Further, Garrard casts a 20th century feminist eye, and an accusatory one at that, upon the artist and her situation. She hardly considers the psychology of the 17th century, nor the legal definitions, where "rape" and its current emotional and psychological ramifications were hardly present. Indeed, court documents and statements show the artist and her father suing for marriage to save the family name; not once is there a mention of emotional hardship, but instead purely economic. Other sources depict a heated, smitten Artemisia, who continued her affair with Tassi for a year before discovered by her father, exposed, and forced to bring legal action against tassi. Conlusion: 400 years ago, forced sexual acts had not the same social identification of today, the psychology was different, and, honestly, Garrard neglects to illustrate the other sides of Artemesia and focuses on one event defining a life of artistic creation that, while reasonable for a 20th century situation, is unfounded for a Baroque.

Artemisia The Mighty
This monograph is partly responsible for the recent interest in Gentileschi's paintings and life.Artemisia was a Carravagisti, a followerof Carravagio.Her father, Oarazio, was also a painter and Artemisiabenefited from his influence, giving her paintings a lushness (I know I amnot being academic here, forgive me, I am not an art critic) thatCaravagio's did not have.Since the first publication of this book therehave been several shows of Artemisia's work in Florence. Unfortunatelythere has also been a very, very dishonest and badly made movie about herlife, titled "Artemisia."The original edition of this bookincluded the court transcriptions of Agostino Tassi's trial for rapingArtemesia.She endured torture (thumbscrews) to verify her testimony. Tassi was convicted but released after seven months.The movie portraysArtemisia as ingenue who chases after Tassi and begs for his love andforgiveness as she is tortured. Artemisia later married, had one childand eventually moved to England to live with her father, where he was acourt portrait painter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1593-1652 or 3    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Criticism and interpretation    5. European    6. Gentileschi, Artemisia,    7. History - Baroque & Rococo    8. Individual Artist    9. Italy    10. Painting, Baroque    11. Painting, Italian    12. Women heroes in art    13. Art / Individual Artist    14. Art and Architecture    15. Baroque art    16. European History    17. Gender Studies    18. Painting & paintings   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful book!
I wished I would have caught this one here first. On tour this book is the full price, and the hard backs are scarce in supply. This book is beautifully bound, and uses high quality paper. This book contains many of the works of both Artemesia and her father. The book is geared more towards Artmesia as she is the lesser known. The book goes into the history of their lives, and they had adverturesome lives. It also discusses the historical context behind many of their paintings. High quality binding and paper will enable you to enjoy their works for many years to come. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1563-1638?    2. 1593-1652 or 3    3. Art    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    6. Exhibitions    7. Gentileschi, Artemisia,    8. Gentileschi, Orazio,    9. History - General    10. Metropolitan Museum Of Art - Exhibition Catalogs    11. Art / History / General    12. Exhibition catalogues and specific collections    13. History of art & design styles: c 1600 to c 1800    14. Individual artists    15. Italy    16. Mannerism (c 1530-1600)    17. Painting & paintings    18. c 1500 to c 1600    19. c 1600 to c 1700   

Reviews (1)

Not for the beginner
If you are wanting to discover more about one of history's greatest and most dramatic female artists, then this is not the book that would be the best starting point. Earlier works by Mary D. Garrard, such as her "Artemisia Gentileschi" (1989), would suit the new reader much better.
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Subjects:  1. 1593-1652 or 3    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Criticism    5. Criticism and interpretation    6. European    7. Gentileschi, Artemisia,    8. History - Baroque & Rococo    9. History - General    10. Art / General    11. Gender studies    12. History of art & design styles: c 1600 to c 1800    13. Individual artists    14. Italy    15. Painting & paintings    16. c 1600 to c 1700   

Subjects:  1. 1593-1652 or 3    2. 20th century    3. Art    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Art criticism    6. Criticism and interpretation    7. Feminism & Feminist Theory    8. Feminism and art    9. General    10. Gentileschi, Artemisia,    11. History    12. History - Baroque & Rococo    13. Individual Artist    14. Reference    15. Art / General   

Reviews (4)

Art History of the Highest Order!
This is a superbly written and researched account of Artemisia's Gentileschi's fascinating life and art.While not at all hostile to feminist interpretations of the painter, chiefly Mary Garrard's, Bissell isrefreshingly skeptical and respectfully critical of many of their keypoints.Bissell is a more traditional art historian than I myself prefer,but one can't find better art history than this. Despite the high price,I wholeheardtedly recommend this wonderful book to anyone interested inArtemisia Gentileschi's paintings and as a feminsit icon.

Bissell's book is best read in tandem with Garrard's book.
I plan to use both the Bissell and the Garrard book on Artemisia Gentileschi in my Baroque Art History class this Spring.Since these authors often interpret both works and life events rather differently,students should find the comparison stimulating.

Bissell's book is best read in tandem Garrard's book.
I plan to use both the Bissell and the Garrard book on Artemisia Gentileschi in my Baroque Art History class this Spring.Since these authors often interpret both works and life events rather differently,students should find the comparison stimulating. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    4. Criticism    5. European    6. Individual Artist    7. Individual Painters - 17th Century    8. Women And Art   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. European    4. History - General    5. Individual Artist    6. Individual Painters - 17th Century    7. Techniques - Painting   

Subjects:  1. Criticism and interpretation    2. Gentileschi, Artemisia   

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Subjects:  1. Exhibitions    2. Gentileschi, Artemisia   

Subjects:  1. Biographical films    2. Gentileschi, Artemisia   

Subjects:  1. Gentileschi, Artemisia