Vestals, Virgins and Victims Lectures : Lecture 3 - Artemisia Gentileschi - Video

In an age when few women had the opportunity to pursue any professional career whatsoever, Artemesia became one of the most influential artists of the Baroque period and the first woman to become an international celebrity in Rome, Venice, Naples and finally London.

Despite these achievements, her work, until recently, has been overshadowed by the story of her rape and trial where she was tortured to be sure she was telling the truth. She immerged from the shadow of her father Orazio Gentileschi to specialise in compelling female figures in myths, the Bible and allegory, often depicting women as warriors, killers, victims and suicides.

Presenter - Sylvia Sagona