LaPierre’s heavily researched–but racy–historical novel covers the passionate life of Italian Renaissance artist Artemisia Gentileschi (), who survived . A few of the reviews. “In this graceful translation Artemisia employs admirable artistry in depicting the turbulent life and times of two great painters.” –The New. “The most comprehensive treatment ever [of Artemisia] in a new book that is already an Artemisia. by Alexandra Lapierre Translated from French by Liz Heron.

Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read.

Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Artemisia by Alexandra Lapierre. Artemisia by Alexandra Lapierre. Liz Heron Goodreads Author Translator. An international best-seller, Artemisia is based on the passionate story of one of the Western world’s first significant female artists.

Born to the artist Orazio Gentileschi at the beginning of the s, when artists were the celebrities of the day, Artemisia was apprenticed to her father at an early age, showing such remarkable talent that he viewed her as the most prec An international best-seller, Artemisia is based on the passionate story of one of the Western world’s first significant female artists.

Born to the artist Orazio Gentileschi at the beginning of the s, when artists were the celebrities of the day, Artemisia was apprenticed to her father at an early age, showing such remarkable talent that he viewed her as the most precious thing in his life.

But at the age of seventeen Artemisia was raped by her father’s best friend and partner.

Artemisia by Alexandra Lapierre

The Gentileschi name was dragged through scandal, for Artemisia refused, even when tortured, to deny it happened. Indeed, she went further: All of Rome was lapierrw by the trial. Artemisia won the case, but lost the love of her father and of all of Rome. Artemisia sought revenge through her art, portraying women liberating their fellow citizens from tyrants. Her stunning works took Rome by storm, overturning the prejudices of her time and winning the admiration of patrons, courtesans, and monarchs.

Lapierre brings the historical Artemisia Gentileschi to vivid life, capturing the sights, sounds, and smells of Baroque Italy as well as the life of this remarkable woman.

Paperbackpages. Published September 21st by Grove Press first published To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

To ask other readers questions about Artemisiaplease sign up. Ann Brady Absolutely based on fact. Worth having a look at lspierre paintings which show her rage at the sexual injustice of her experience.

Makes you wonder how …more Absolutely based on fact. Makes you wonder how many great artists have been lost to history because they were women. See 1 question about Artemisia….

Lists with This Book. If you are unaware of Artemisia Gentileschi, then I can only say: Arguably the most talented xrtemisia painter of Baroque Italy, the alexandrx of a rape and first public rape trial, and a true feminist; Artemisia is nothing short of amazing.

Sadly, her work and life is less known to those outside of the art world. Being neither a stra If you are unaware of Artemisia Gentileschi, then I can only say: LaPierre is heavy on the history revealing the life of Artemisia and also that of Baroque Italy, art, the artist lifestyle, etc. Have no fear though; the reader definitely gets to know each personality on an intimate level. Furthermore, the settings are also well-described but not overdone and do not overwhelm.

Everything has a set place and natural flow. The novel feels very much alive and is a true page-turner during which the reader begs to know what happens even those familiar with the events.

There are small annoyances, however; such as a few awkward transitions from pure historic sections to HF and the habit of asking the reader questions. The last quarter of the book feels comparatively weaker to the previous sections and is sort of like a different novel, entirely.

The novel is much recommended for a plethora of readers including: HF fans, history lovers, art enthusiasts, devotees of Baroque Italy and the Medicis, artists, and of course: View all 15 comments. This book by Alexandra Lapierre on the life of the female artist, Artemisia Gentileschi, is a fascinating study of the world of art and Europe during the seventeenth Century. Having read a few books on Caravaggio I had come across the name of Artemisia but knew very little of her other than that she had been raped by another artist and later went on to become quite famous herself.

This book told the story of not only Artemisia and her art but also her father, Orazio Gentileschi, and showed how a This book by Alexandra Lapierre on the life of the female artist, Artemisia Gentileschi, is a fascinating study of the world of art and Europe during the seventeenth Century.

Artemisia: The Story of a Battle for Greatness – Alexandra Lapierre – Google Books

This book told the story of not only Artemisia and her lapiierre but also her father, Orazio Gentileschi, and showed how artistic rivalry, love, family, honour and a passion for art interlocked their lives and careers.

The book is not a novel as the title suggests but is indeed a historical biography of Artemisia Gentileschi and her times. The author has used her skills as a novelist to fill gaps in the story of Artemisia but only with the greatest sense of historical correctness. The author has carried out extensive research on her subject and has used the alexadra of this research to help fill the gaps in the story of this famous artist.

She lets the reader know that at times she has fictionalised some of the narrative but never the facts. Alexandra Lapierre provides the reader with comprehensive notes and references to show the reader why she has decided to use certain narrative or placed a particular slant on her perspective of some events. I found that this manner of story telling in this particular account did not detract from the book in any fashion.

It may not please those historians or experts in the field of art but to me, aelxandra novice, I found it a great approach to help the reader understand alexajdra great artist and the times she lived in.

A number of colour plates are provided of not only Artemisia’s paintings but also her fathers and other artists involved in her story. A number of maps have also been placed in the book to assist the reader with following the story, events and travels of Artemisia.

The story itself was well told and in particular I found the account of the rape case very interesting. This is an intriguing and very enjoyable book and I hope that the idea of some of the narrative being fiction will not put other readers off.

In fact the 80 pages of notes used by the author to support her account makes fascinating reading in themselves. The book is over pages and I found it a very easy to read account and it has provoked in me a desire to learn more about this great female artist.

This book is well worth the effort to sit down lwpierre read and I hope that many other readers out there enjoy this book as much as I did. Just for the interest other readers, in Australia the book is titled Artemisia: The Story of a Battle for Greatness.

Following are some reviews taken from the back cover: Jul 23, Malcolm rated it it was ok Shelves: Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the most intriguing women of the European Renaissance, possibly one of the most intriguing women ever, but this biographical novel is problematic.

One the one hand, I want to praise it for laying out her life and for its presentation of the difficult existence of a serious woman artist in 17th artemisai Italy. It is a novel that comes with pages of notes and references and 16 pages of full colour plates featuring much of her most well known work along with sever Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the most intriguing women of the European Renaissance, possibly one of the most intriguing women ever, but this biographical novel is problematic.

It is a novel that comes with pages of notes and references and 16 pages of full colour plates featuring much of her most well known work along with several of her father’s.

But it is a novel, not a biography, and while I understand the need to depict in fictional form to get to the rich complexity of her life, it just did not convince. I am not sure if the problem lies in Lapierre’s writing style of in Liz Heron’s translation, but it is depressing that the fictionalisation is argued to be necessary to draw out the Gentileschi’s existence but finishes up in so many places being so unconvincing and in some so obviously a plot device.

This isn’t to say it is a bad book — just that Anna Banti’s lapkerre novel and Mary Garrard’s two serious art history studies are much better. Read it as historical fiction, not as a biography — if you want a biography, consult the 50 page bibliography.

May 20, Bonnie Wilson arrtemisia it did not like it Shelves: I trudged through about pages of this with absolutely no enjoyment whatsoever. I did spend some minutes wondering exactly how to describe the writing – maybe a doctoral dissertation chopped up and interspersed with some very occasional dialogue and an omniscient author explaining the characters feelings?

Not that I would know how a doctoral dissertation reads, but this sure does not read like a novel. I will credit the author for definitely not making this a “perky modern girl in period cost I trudged through about pages of this with absolutely no enjoyment whatsoever.

I will credit a,exandra author for definitely not making this a “perky modern girl in period costume” read – from the beginning – when Orazio Gentileschi takes his six-year-old daughter Artemisla to the very foot of a scaffold and holds her up to get a good view of a young girl being beheaded – we are absolutely not anywhere near the 20th Century.

A few of the reviews

The volume does have some high-quality photos of some of Artemisia’s paintings. Looking at Artemisia’s paintings in the book and in some images online they are very rich, lush, and I think her women’s faces are quite remarkable. The Baroque is not my favorite period in painting, nor do these gruesome topics appeal to me – but artemisa one wonder at them, given la;ierre artist having been taken to public executions as a young child? Still, I am sorry that when I was in the Uffizi I missed seeing some of hers that are on display there.

I was too staggered wandering from Lippi to DaVinci to Michaelangelo to Botticelli – nothing, nothing can prepare the mind for seeing these paintings in person, they seem impossible, like miracles – and I had a hard time tearing myself away from them. Too bad the author’s prose does not have any of the life of that painting. In my opinion of course – the review quotes – words like “masterpiece” are used – make it obvious I’m in the minority.

Maybe it turns wonderful after the first hundred pages I’m not willing to give it any more time. Aug 21, Rebecca Huston rated it it was amazing Shelves: Out of the three novels that I’ve read about Artemisia, this one is my favourite, and alexandrz one that is the best written. This is the one to go to for a good read, and some understanding of the sensationalistic rape trial that marred Artemisia’s youth, but artsmisia have been what turned her into such an expressive artist.

For the longer review, please go here: Sep 20, Sandie rated it liked it Shelves: Art historians have always had an almost romantic attachment to Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the few female post-Renaissance painters to achieve fame during her own lifetime. Trained as an artist by her famous father, Orazio Gentileschi, she was a woman with 21st century ideas and ideals forced artemiia deal with being born in the 17th century. Raped at age seventeen by an associate of her father she filed a complaint and lapirre the matter to trial a scandalous artemisiaa unheard of event in when women Art historians have always had an almost romantic attachment to Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the few female post-Renaissance painters to achieve fame during her own lifetime.

Raped at age seventeen by an associate of her father she filed a complaint and took the alexanda to trial a scandalous and unheard of event in when women had little voice.