Strong Women Series #10 (10 of 10)

 

Last November (2019) my husband and I were able to visit

the SAM's (Seattle Art Museum) exhibit,

 Flesh and Blood: Italian Masterpieces from the Capodimonte Museum

which was on view Oct 17 - Jan 26 2020 ...

... and here's proof! 

Me in front of 

Judith and Holofernes,

a painting by my favorite Italian Master from the 1500 and 1600's -

Artemisia Gentileschi! 

So - 

it didn't take too much thought to choose the woman 
to paint for my number 10 and final Strong Women Series painting.

I knew it had to be Artemisia Gentileschi. 

This Wikipedia link has a ton of info if you would

like to read more about her. Talk about a strong woman! 

But ... I wasn't quite sure how to go about designing

the painting. Coming to the rescue (what are painting friends for?)

was my friend, and artist - Patrick!

He sent me this:

This painting is by Artemisia, and called "Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting", 

made when she was 45. Oil on canvas, 38 x 29 inches. 

I had already been thinking about this and a couple of other paintings 

by Artemisia and Patrick had a great idea! (Thank you again, P!)

 I thought I would give it a try. 

But WHO would Artemisia be painting?

That was another fairly substantial roadblock, 

but I didn't need help to find her.

I found the perfect 

Strong Woman.

RBG!

Ruth Bader Ginsberg  - this link will direct you

to her Wikipedia page where you can read

why I chose her as another strong woman to be in this painting. Two for one!

There are lots of photos of her online. I needed a portrait-type picture.

I found this which is an ad for a poster-like picture

that you place in the window of your car to make 

it seem like RBG is riding along with you.

And after messing around with the position,

I jumped in and began painting.

One of Artemisia's first paintings, 

when she was 17 years old,

is this one.

Susanna and the Elders  oil on canvas  5'7" x 4'   c1610

Here is the Wiki link to read more about the painting.

I decided to put a small section of this painting

on Artemisia's wall as if she had done a study

for her final painting.

The painting of RBG was looking not quite right

and my husband & daughter suggested making the painting-in-the-painting's

placement more "attached" to the wall behind, 

kind of like she was painting on the canvas attached 

to the wall. I had lots more help when I asked family for suggestions

and I took their advice to good effect. It always helps to have "new eyes"

look at the painting that you have been staring at and working on.

The photo below shows that I made the perspective

a bit more true.

The blue in the canvas was too bright

so I dulled it down and now I feel the painting

(before varnish)

is finished.

Artemisia and RBG       12 x 18 inches      oil on Masonite 

Thank you for reading all of this; I hope you will look up some of the links.

Let me know if Artemisia Gentileschi is a new painter from history for you.

Happy Painting

Stay safe and healthy!

🎨