ARTH 283 - The Life and Work of Artemesia Gentileschi

• T - 18:00-20:15
• EV-1.605
• INSTRUCTOR: KIM RONDEAU

This course will focus on the life, works and times of 17th century artist Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 – Around 1652). Now canonized by feminist art history, as well as traditional art history, Gentileschi remains a controversial figure whose works are too often read in direct relation to the events of her life.
 
This class will be divided in three major segments. We will begin the semester by investigating the artistic culture in which Gentileschi worked (Rome, Florence, the Royal Court of Spain, Venice, London, Naples). Armed with knowledge of the cultural context, we will then discuss and analyze at length Gentileschi’s artistic production. The last few classes of the term will be dedicated to a historiographical study of the literature on Gentileschi. The publications of Mary D. Garrard, R. Ward Bissel, Jesse Locker, Keith Christiansen and Judith W. Mann are going to be studied in order to get a sense of how art history has constructed the figure of Artemisia Gentileschi. In terms of evaluations, students will be asked to produce a reading response, a research paper and participate in class workshops and discussions.