No. 04The 1600s
BaroqueArtemisia Gentileschi
1593 – c. 1656 · Italy
Dramatic light, fierce heroines, no apologies.
All artistsBaroque
BaroqueJudith Slaying Holofernes, c. 1614–1620. Artemisia Gentileschi. Public domain · Source: Wikimedia Commons
Painting
Artemisia Gentileschi
1593 – c. 1656 · Italy
Trained in Rome by her father, she became one of the most sought-after painters of her generation, working in Florence, Venice, London and Naples. She is known for powerful scenes of biblical and mythological women.
Know more on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Fact file
- Born
- 1593
- Died
- c. 1656
- Country
- Italy
- Era
- The 1600s
- Style
- Baroque
- Disciplines
- Painting
- Key work
- Judith Slaying Holofernes (c. 1614–1620)
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Where to see it
- Uffizi Galleries, Florence, Italy
Curiosity!
DocumentedTranscripts of a 1612 trial in which she testified still survive — a rare record of a 17th‑century woman's own words.
What we know (and what we don’t)
- Documented
In 1616 she became the first woman admitted to the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence.
- Not certain
Her date of death is not known; it may have been in the plague of 1656.
Where to see her
On view right now
- On nowGroup show
W̶o̶m̶a̶n̶ Painter
Nasjonalmuseet · Oslo, Norway
8 Oct 2026 – 7 Feb 2027
Official page for W̶o̶m̶a̶n̶ Painter (opens in a new tab) - On now
Artemisia Gentileschi in Florence
“Artemisia Gentileschi a Firenze”
Museo degli Innocenti · Florence, Italy
20 Oct 2026 – 4 Apr 2027
Official page for Artemisia Gentileschi in Florence (opens in a new tab)
Museums that own her work
- Gallerie degli UffiziFlorence, Italy(opens in a new tab)
- The National GalleryLondon, UK(opens in a new tab)
Owning isn’t always showing: works rotate, go into storage or travel on loan — check before you go.
Hunting for a show we missed?
Exhibition list last checked 25 Oct 2026.