Artemisia Gentileschi: The woman behind the paintings - Allison Leigh

Get to know the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the most accomplished artists of the 17th century.
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The biblical story of the heroine Judith slaying the brutal Holofernes is featured in countless works of art, including the Sistine Chapel. But the most iconic depiction was painted by an artist who tackled this ambitious scene when she was just 19 years old. Her name was Artemisia Gentileschi. So who was Artemisia, and what sets her depiction apart from the rest? Allison Leigh investigates.
Lesson by Allison Leigh, directed by Luísa M H Copetti, Hype CG.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/artemisia-...
Dig deeper with additional resources: ed.ted.com/lessons/artemisia-...
Animator's website: www.luisacopetti.com.br & www.hype.cg
Educator's website: www.allison-leigh.com
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Isorn Sookwanish, Iryna Panasiuk, Diane Gallin, Aaron Torres, Vasundhar, Eric Braun, Sonja Worzewski, Michael Clement, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman, Kurt Paolo Sevillano, Jennifer Heald, Megulo Abebe, TAO7CADENCE, Olympia Buckingham, isolwi, Vedasheersh, Michael Chang, Waqar Sheikh, Irene Y., Kate Sem, VPpurplebelt, Ujjwal Dasu, Angel Alberici, Sylvain, JasonD, Terran Gimpel, Talia Sari, Katie McDowell, Allen, Sarat Chandra Vegunta, Mahina Knuckles, Charmaine Hanson, Paul Aldred-Bann, Thawsitt, Jezabel, Abdullah Abdulaziz, Adriano Fontes, Xiao Yu, Melissa Suarez, Brian A. Dunn, Francisco Amaya, Daisuke Goto, Matt Switzler, Leonardo Monrroy, Maryam and Bethany Connor.

[@TEDEd]

Content warning: This video includes depictions of violence and a discussion of sexual assault

[@emberphoenix5618]

Why didn’t you keep that in the video?

[@existingexpert]

This should be in the video, not a comment.

[@wilderbeast9368]

Happy Super Month. 👩🏿‍🦰

[@hazzmati]

@@qwertykeyboard5901 nah it's history it's not nice and it's not pretty. Anyone not realising that and gets offended is a naive little child. It's pathetic.

[@emberphoenix5618]

@@hazzmati are you really that insensitive?

[@august4838]

she slayed that painting in every possible way.

[@deer563]

Puns i both love them and hate this pun i love

[@jessicawood421]

Ha! I get it! You’re so punny : D

[@kiran-thetributechannel]

I disagree and I refuse to elaborate further.

[@DefiniteIyHuman]

@@kiran-thetributechannel A soon to be corpse can't really speak much, can they?

[@myozbubble]

Hee hee. I see what you did there.

[@jide7722]

"Artemisia Gentileschi" is probably the most beautiful name I've ever heard.

[@akay9030]

Name your child

[@gwen_d]

@@frfras7 It's an Italian name even if it's of greek origin

[@gwen_d]

You should hear it pronounced in Italian, it's even more beautiful

[@cornerseeker9167]

In old Italian the word for “noble” was “gentile”, from Latin “gens” a term used to describe the patrician families and dynasties, like gens Iulia the family of Caesar. So Gentileschi technically means “from the nobles”, which is very cool

[@robertdesantis6205]

I kind of like Kettorah Zipporah. Hebrew for "perfumed little bird."

[@eclairlu7586]

I remember reading a post about the difference between paintings of women in the “male gaze” and then the “female gaze”. Caravaggio’s makes Judith look more “dainty or fragile” because that was how men viewed women. Artemisia’s is more realistic and shows Judith to be vengeful and not delicate because the act itself isn’t delicate too

[@denischungkham6779]

Depends on the painter, not the gender. The idea of the male gaze is false and does not hold up to criticism. If u want to know more look up Camille paglia on the male gaze.

[@ephajanke3242]

@@denischungkham6779 You are funny.

[@iceyyl3mon]

Yea

[@loplop019]

@@ephajanke3242 You are smart.

[@Furrina89]

There is a chinese procedural drama called Under the Skin (ur typical buddy cop stuff) where I first leart abt this painting and the differences in the Artemisia version and the other ones. Hers is truly a masterpiece

[@tuskinekinase]

I love how TED-Ed chose to pose Artemisia's interrogation scene in the same pose of her work Susanna and the Elders.

[@sydposting]

I loved that too! It's her oldest surviving work, at that!

[@allisonleigh]

So glad to hear you liked that!

[@a.f.2330]

Yeah, as if their inability to provide her justice was equivalent to killing her. Nice catch

[@daredemptionn]

that reminded me of the fact that Artemis was also a goddess of chastity and celibacy (as Artemisia herself was viciously violated) and her depiction on the bracelet on one wrist and a sword resembling a crucifix in her other hand make it so much more profoundly meaningful and powerful!!!

[@allisonleigh]

Yes! Great point!

[@kenster8270]

So in other words: Her work is an expression of biblical revenge and poetic comeuppance based on lived experience. I hope Artemisia received some form of recognition and a sense of restitution/justice in her lifetime.

[@UMBERRRTO1]

And in many lifetimes thereafter, as we justly still talk about her, and her artwork, today and likely forever

[@hwizell7478]

Supreme precedent Legal recourse figured eight Creative license #haiku #affirmativeaction #scotus #education #beyondprecedent

[@shaynatang8888]

Agostino proposed to marry Artemisia to "restore her honor" but he didn't go through with it and then her father took him to court. While she was being tortured, Artemisia said that the thumbscrews were the wedding bands he promised her. Source: "Artemisia Gentileschi" by Garrard

[@allisonleigh]

Yes! I wish we could have included that, but I'm so glad to see you're familiar with Garrard's book. And Tassi didn't marry her in part because he was ALREADY married 😳

[@samewish]

Men use marriage to control her and torture under the men

[@actuallyimnotreallysureyet6360]

@@allisonleigh Was the emoji really necessary when talking about another woman’s assailant? It’s much more serious than just adultery.

[@charlockprime]

The wonderful thing about art is that it is subjective and can be enjoyed for an endless variety of reasons by anyone.

[@rsw552]

Well said. 🖌 🎨

[@itsblitz4437]

Yeah won't stop people from criticizing it.

[@luisandrade2254]

Art is not subjective appreciation is but aesthetics is not

[@Anne-wf1vo]

Objectively good art exists though, and this is one such example. That's what art history and aesthetics classes are all about

[@_PrajaktaMokale]

This is more explained in kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpbNd5R5o8iomZY

[@neilrybadecosul613]

I am in awe of Artemisia. She's just as fierce as her namesake, Artemis-who's one of my favorites among the greek deities. Wonderful video as always, TED 😍.

[@rhemasartspace]

Artemisia's one of my favorite Baroque artists. Her works really speak powerfully about her and her life. I always think she really poured her soul into them and she was able to make a protest againt violence against women through her paintings, which make them so timeless because the message still reverbarates today.

[@shreyavarshney5819]

Also she used to sign the paintings under her last name which with her art style matches her father's , so Many people believed that they were made by her father .So, during her life time she didn't even recieve the credit for most of her paintings

[@Ajay-pj2hv]

There's an anime series called "Arte" that shows her inspiring story beautifully My favourite thing about that is it shows the drive, passion,work ethic and hunger she had to do this. Emphasizing the quote "if you really really want something to happen, nothing can stop you"

[@fairyd3ity967]

I love your references-

[@sumitrana2420]

That's her?

[@Ajay-pj2hv]

@@fairyd3ity967 ... Thanks

[@Ajay-pj2hv]

@@sumitrana2420 yes it's that Artemisia

[@popoya2297]

@@Ajay-pj2hv Nope: it's not her, she's just inspired by Artemisia. The protagonist of Arte is called Arte Spalletti, she's from a noble family of Florence and the story's beginning is set in 1506. The real Artemisia Gentileschi was born in Rome in 1593, so she can't possibly be the protagonist of Arte.

[@hkumar7340]

I had never heard of Artemisia Gentileschi before, but I am really amazed at the quality of her work. She was right; her works speak for themselves!

[@AlifNurfakhri]

When I saw her painting at the Uffizi Gallery, I fell in love completely. Her painting of Judith beheading Holofernes was full of emotions and revenge. It appeals so well with the scheming nature of my life.

[@lostescape419]

Brutally aesthetic

[@nurulainazman7711]

One of the most memorable paintings I remember from art history class

[@1933Oliver]

One of my favourite artists. There is such force and energy in her works, and I'm glad she has finally been given the spotlight in recent years. Michael Palin made a great documentary about her.

[@20D0D0]

Out of all the artist we've had to study in European Art History, her name is one I've never forgotten 🖼👩‍🎨

[@GODisGood.8]

A very strong lady with amazing talent.

[@lizzmurray5846]

I was able to see the c.1620 painting when it was in Chicago. I was a little younger then and I didn’t know or understand the story behind the work, but I remember being struck by the imagery and gore and the power she gave to Judith in that work. It’s a big a painting too so seeing it in person adds a whole other effect to it.

[@aybukedelrey6823]

I got chills watching this video really impressive

[@tannisthanandi1382]

‘Blood Water Paint’ by Joy McCoulough is a beautiful, poetic biography of Artemisia Gentileschi. It depicts the stories of its three lead women (Artemisia, Susanna and Judith) to such depth. A must read for anyone interested in Artemisia’s full story!

[@charlief.7588]

I’ve never been so early to a Ted Ed video, this is awesome

[@quasistarsupernova]

me neither

[@TheGalacticGrizzly]

I saw an exposition about Artemisia and it left me so impressed with her as a person! She was such a strong character, a force to be reckoned with. What a role model.

[@cesar.leyvag]

I am a simple man with a simple mind: I see a Ted-Ed video praising Renaissance Italian genius Artemisia Gentileschi and I click it

[@spinejackel]

oh man. been working on a project where i’ve been looking at this and other paintings by artemisia a lot for inspiration. cannot put in words how much i love her work

[@nurulainazman7711]

love the art style of this video

[@beyondhelp85]

I only knew part of the story behind this painting. I am welling up. It is a beautiful, yet tragic story. Awesome work. I am very touched by this.

[@allisonleigh]

Thanks! We worked really hard on it ❤

[@hellihello2333]

Wow I am not too much into art, but the whole video was done soo well and was really interesting!!

[@allisonleigh]

Thanks so much!

[@rabukaxen9595]

Did nobody else notice how Judith is animated to look a lot like Artemesia?

[@LadyAhro]

Nice to see a video on a favourite artist of mine! She puts her immense strength and feeling in her art.

[@juandelacruize]

Wow.. The painting and the story moved me

[@jiandelrosario4890]

I suggest you read a book about her entitled The Passion of Artemisia. It was awesome!

[@sobekmania]

Artemisia is one of my favorite artists. She paints women with such authenticity and drama that it compels the painting to reality. I love her depiction of Susanna and the Elders, because unlike other depictions, it manages to capture Susanna's fear and anger towards being harassed while in a compromised state. I'm beyond delighted that she is receiving the recognition that she deserves.

[@thisissostupid61]

Incredible. Would love more artist explorations like this.

[@abqbobcat]

I had not known about her until I took an art history class in college 16 or so years ago. Ever since, I've been fascinated with her work.

[@eldoogenger3739]

It's amazing how detailed Art can be.

[@enlongjones2394]

“THAT’S how you decapitate a person!” -Blue, OSP

[@zara8475]

Wonderful ted. We encourage your die hard efforts. Thankyou very much....

[@cailyella8428]

I learned a lot of vocabs that i haven't seen before from this videos.Thank Ted and looking forward to more knowledgeable vds like this

[@lisaleonard9874]

I never have seen the painting or heard of this story. great job thanks for the upload

[@dachosenone207]

Who animated this deserves praise

[@gunsofaugust1971]

Amazing short; thanks TED. Obviously, I am preaching to the choir, but I make it a point to recommend Caravaggio to any cultural neophyte I encounter. I will start bringing up Artemisia as well.; but Caravaggio is a giant that surprisingly, many do not know. Back in the day, you could not be considered educated without knowing the Masters.

[@allisonleigh]

Thanks, Scott! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@kylasibulo1476]

Thank you for explaining this thoroughly!

[@treasure-teumes40]

Love this channel so much

[@brightnesshaetbeet9400]

I just saw the painting by Artemisia just yesterday! I was pretty surprised to find a video about it

[@crystalcastillo7575]

I was incredibly surprised when I saw this video. I always had wondered the same exact question when I first saw the painting. What an inspiring story , and I hope Artemisia got justice or some kind of newfound peace in the end.

[@EhyWisdom]

I've always been very curious about her!! Glad someone is talking about a "minor" artist like Artemisia! Ps: there's a street in Florence, the city Artemisia moved to, that's called Artemisia Street, in her honor ♥️

[@actuallyimnotreallysureyet6360]

She’s not a minor artist.

[@EhyWisdom]

@@actuallyimnotreallysureyet6360 it's a real pity you missed the quotation marks I used for the word "minor"

[@actuallyimnotreallysureyet6360]

@@EhyWisdom I noticed that much, but even in quotes she’s not really considered minor. I feel like most people who learn about the baroque period see her paintings. She’s a pretty big contender and there was focus on her Judith paints a lot on history for this very reason. Sorry if that seems nitpicky, I still agree with your sentiment, it’s awesome they covered her.

[@kimmy2631]

I read the novel Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough which is about Artemisia's life and the trial. I had no idea it was based on a real person while reading it and only found out later. It’s written in poetic form and I highly recommend it.

[@TheonlyLarsNelson]

Fantastic vid, thank you so much !

[@tauhidershadKUFNAFLORAN]

There's even an anime about her, it's called Arte.

[@akirebara]

OMG there is?!!! gonna look it up, thanks!

[@tauhidershadKUFNAFLORAN]

@@akirebara It’s in Muse Asia.

[@mopsindacharline1767]

as stated by others in earlier comments is the Manga(and its anime adapition) vaguely inspired by her but too many differences between the story and historic reality exist as that one can say it is about her

[@RelationshipbyDesign]

Love this! Love Artemisia's work. It is interesting to hear how her work evolved. She paints some amazing depictions of Mary Magdalene. Beauty and so much symbolism. She uses her own style.

[@smallspace7]

It always amazes me to know the meaning and the story behind a painting to see what I couldn't see

[@manuelmejia6605]

I got to see this irl in the Louvre, I had heard of this painting before seeing it and this vid and I was so excited! So thankful for that experience! 😊

[@JS.forever]

Thank you Ted-Ed for sharing 🙂👍

[@avanik8266]

this is crazy, we just looked at this painting in english class today and now i see this video!

[@kimmycassie]

Beautifully made! I didn't learn about her when we studied the eras

[@diyalibhunia4192]

The painting is so powerful. ❤️

[@ablori]

This animation is soo cool i mean they are doing everything they can btw thank you for this video

[@soupking94]

One of my all time favorite paintings

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Artemisia's talent inspires other women to do their own craft

[@fredlada1634]

Artemisias talent is just another case of « you may copy, but know the original will always be talked about first »

[@carlycrays2831]

This is weird, but it always makes me want to cook. It always looks like Judith is cooking dinner.

[@ashleightompkins3200]

Hands down my favourite renaissance painter

[@cherias.4069]

Thank you for this well Narrated ,well detailed information that vibrantly depicts Lives from a far away,Dead=Gone but Not Forgotton Era. ✌

[@sneakerphotgrapher]

Powerful! And beautiful as well, thank-you!

[@daimogu95]

I think I'd never been moved that much by a painting . I'd never seen this painting. Probably the most dramatic painting I'd ever seen. Marvelous job and from a Teenager! 🎨

[@I_Smell_Like_Beef]

Yes 👍 more ‘women behind the painting’

[@laugthius]

Wow i never know a history behind that painting , great video 😶👍

[@MadmanZachary]

I just finished a college class and used this artist throughout the class. She will forever be in my head for taking on the social norms at the time.

[@chatgpt4135]

People from different eras keep on protesting through various forms against 'Feudal and unnatural social cruel yet normalised rules', but 'Society's cruel norms' just keep on adapting in different 'New new profound versions with adding features' Whatever was yesterday is still today Yesterday people normalised it , still they do Yesterday people stood against it and vanished, still they do Yesterday society was barbaric, chauvinistic, merciless and narcissistic , still it is Yesterday forms were different , Still they are the same with even more norms Yesterday people used arts to change society, they still do Yesterday their arts went in vain, it still does same.

[@marlyndonnelly2206]

Wow. I noticed the expression of focus on her face, but you blew me away with her rolling up her sleeves. Incredible

[@rumblefish9]

We always hear of Italian, French, English, American or Dutch painters but never from unlikely artists. One of the most impressive paintings in my country, the Philippines, is the Spoliarium. It had won top prize at the Madrid Exposition of 1884--something completely unheard of because its painter was an "indio". Filipino painter Juan Luna spent 8 months painting it, and it is every bit as grand and dramatic. It depicts dying gladiators being taken to be stripped of weapons. It is very much in the baroque style with its heavy use of shadows and drama. It was displayed in Rome in 1884 and finally returned to its rightful place in the 1950s.

[@arielfrancisco5114]

Im a Filipino painter, saw Spoliarium multiple times, and I guess because of the quality and style. If you compare the works from the European Artists to it, Looking at it fundamentally, it was far from the Old Masters work. It sure has a great and very historical meaning into it, but it just doesnt match the qualities and even the era, in Luna's time, one of the European master is Bouguereau. You can try comparing their works if you want and you'll see what Im trying to say

[@officialspaceefrain]

I studied her in college ten years ago.

[@jao5942]

We need more art documentaries

[@alex-eh2rz]

i wish i had a cool video like this when i did a whole project on artemisia a few months ago

[@tsukuyomirai5264]

I am a learning artist, and this made me so sad. Artist only need a moment that inspires them, either good or bad it just fuels them.

[@emmaeriksson7155]

One of my favorite artists 😌😌!

[@samarthnaik13]

I just watched Blue Period and now I can understand and appreciate art much better

[@jlsolorzano]

you forgot the most important part! this painting is a self portrait and she added her face to that of judith’s ⚡️

[@swayamcurrentaffairs9601]

Thanks ted 🙏🙏

[@seethaprajna8587]

Brilliant animation! The frame at 3:50 is actually from one of her paintings called Susanna and the Elders

[@agarryking]

Thanks for this, I did not know of Artemisia Gentileschi, this is genius, she is genius.

[@wendyantoniadis2404]

Knew of her...but still much appreciated this.

[@Treepelt]

She was born July 8, same as me…very inspirational.

[@girlpaintsworld]

I wrote my final essay for art history about Artemisia. Such an amazing artist

[@natanimansudono3461]

the background music is soo good...

[@pierreramos3296]

... beautiful!!!

[@keren.icehand]

She is amazing💜

[@didoarendt8742]

Muy buen vídeo :)

[@tomashrabec7131]

Very recently I taught Gustave Klimt that painted Judith as well. I compared the painting with -Caravaggio's. Never herd of Artemisia's version. Nevertheless I'm making some changes in this lesson. Thanks for teaching me something new :)

[@shalinitiwariscorner5210]

One can clearly feel the warmth of rage and the intense coldness of melancholy in Artemisia's paintings. Her art was indeed the outlet of the saline ocean of trauma that threshold of her eyes had to hold like strong oil colours trapped in colourless fibres of the canvas.

[@myozbubble]

Her talent is unparalleled.

[@-JA-]

Thank you.

[@NM-vs5lg]

Wow ✨

[@simontyrrell8866]

If you were lucky enough to see the National Gallery exhibition then the genius of Artemisia Gentileschi will come as no surprise. The excellent exhibition in Lucca this summer reinforced my understanding of Caravaggio's influence on this generation of artists

[@tesconstamylo]

Your best video ♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@Rachel-fi4sc]

The more this change, the more things stay the same. Rest in Power, Artemisia.

[@Indresh2468]

Woah, the narrarive was intense. I was so close to the monitor of my laptop by the end of this video.

[@somepersonontheinternet6879]

I just read a book about her not too long ago! It was called “The Passion of Artemesia” and it was a pretty exciting book. I liked it a lot :D

[@AK-mo9pj]

oh wow, didn't know about this book. Gonna order it in a sec, thanks

[@eisreality630]

So perfect

[@graysongirl6403]

I just saw her exhibit in detroit,was awe inspiring

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.