Artemisia Gentileschi is by far the most famous woman artist of the pre-modern era. Her art addresses issues that resonate today, such as sexual violence and women’s problematic access to political power. Her forceful paintings with their vigorous female protagonists have excited modern audiences, especially feminists.

This book breaks new ground by placing the artist in the context of women’s political history, and the feminist protest that was bubbling in early modern Europe. Mary D. Garrard shows that Artemisia most likely knew or knew about contemporary feminist writers such as the Venetians Lucrezia Marinella and Arcangela Tarabotti, and the alignment of her art with their texts is striking. Garrard discusses recently discovered paintings, offers fresh perspectives on known works and examines the artist anew in the context of early modern feminism.

This beautifully illustrated book gives a full portrait of a strong woman and a great artist who fought back through her art