Artemisia – Anna Banti

Recognised as one of the greatest painters of the post-Caravaggio era, much in Artemisia Gentileschi's life marked her out as a victim - rape at the age of 18, a forced marriage to a man she did not love and, a powerful, patriarchal father, Orazio Gentileschi. But Artemisia did not accept the status of victim, in the years between 1610 and 1650, she produced over 50 paintings that have established her as one of the great painters of all time.

She gave up everything - "all tenderness, all claim to feminine virtues" to dedicate herself solely to painting. Sacrifices that Anna Banti, herself an artist, fully understands and captures in this amazing novel. Republished at a time when appreciation of Gentileschi's art is at its highest, Artemisia gives us the key to understanding the genius of this feminist icon.