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The Arts Intel Report

By Her Hand: Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy, 1500–1800

Feb 6 – May 29, 2022
5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, United States

The tale of women artists in centuries past is still largely untold, yet a few pioneers have emerged. For instance, Artemisia Gentileschi, a victim of rape, went on to paint women’s plights with majesty and power. Sofonisba Anguissola had kings and queens as her subjects. This exhibition tells their stories, along with those of lesser known artists, such as Elisabetta Sirani, who painted and made prints in her hometown of Bologna. A highlight is Gentileschi’s jarring, stunning Judith and her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes, which she painted around 1623. —E.C.

Artemisia Gentileschi, “Self-Portrait as a Lute Player,” 1615–1617. Courtesy of The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.