THE LIGHT AND DARK (the life and times of Artemisia Gentileschi)

This recent play was at 59E59 st Theater. It was brilliantly  written  and starred Kate Hamill, Directed by Jade King Carroll and produced  by Jamie de Roy   Ms Hamill  has a huge grasp of art and words, tracing the 7 -year old to adulthood.

This artist lived at the begining of the 1600s, or the Baroque era. And was qualified to study  paintings and models with the other male students. is the only female artist celebrated. Her paintings reflect her feminism as in "Judith slaying Holofernes'  where 2 women kill the victim not one. 

Her subjects are taken from, the Bible and highlighted  with strong dramatic lighting (chiaroscuro) such as used by Caravaggio in the 1500s. She studied under her Father. Her life was not easy.  Seduced by her Fathers friend who promised to marry her (who was already married) her Father brought him  to trial.  

The court in 1612 was not in her favor.It was there that she was tortured to tell the truth undergoing her hands almost  crushed in a box with clamps .But the testimony  of her assistant Mateo help make her free.

She did have the backing of the Medici family who gave her commisions.  But  even though,    women were not allowed to join the Guild of male painters. She married, lived in Florence,  had 5 children and did join  the Artists Academy 

She did travel with her Father and painted in London under King Charles 1 in 1638