Centuries of Art @ Your Library - A Woman of This Kind of Talent: The Genius of Artemisia Gentileschi December 18, 2006

Artemisia Gentileschi is not a household name today, but in the seventeenth century she was called a miracle in painting, whose brilliance rivaled the sun and whose hands made marvels that ravished the eyes. Become better acquainted with this artist in a free illustrated lecture on Monday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland Street. The program is part of the free lecture series, "Centuries of Art @ Your Library," sponsored by This Century Gallery in partnership with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Williamsburg Regional Library. Reservations are not needed for this free program. For more information, contact the library at (757) 259-4070.

Art historian Barbara Johnston, presents "A Woman of This Kind of Talent: The Genius of Artemisia Gentileschi," about the Roman artist who was the first woman to paint major historical and religious scenes. Artemisia was trained by her father to paint in the style of the great Italian artist Caravaggio. While in her teens, she proved her virtuosity by creating paintings that were every bit as masterful as any male painter of the day. The major difference was in the subjects that Artemisia chose to paint, for she was fascinated by the femme forte, the powerful women of history and legend. Whether goddess, queen, or Biblical heroine, her canvases are filled with strong, beautiful, courageous women who were, some believe, reflections of their creator. This lecture examines the art and life of this remarkable woman, who described herself as having the spirit of a Caesar in the soul of a woman.

This series is made possible through This Century Art Gallery's partnership program with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). It has been organized by the Office of Statewide Partnerships of the VMFA and is supported by the Paul Mellon Endowment.

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