Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read.
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A riveting novel based on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi—the greatest female painter of the Renaissance—as she forges her own destiny in a world dominated by the will of men.
This is the ring that you gave me, and these are your promises.
A young woman is put on trial. She has accused her painting teacher of the darkest betrayal – he accuses her of being an immoral liar. What really happened, and why will this trial scandalise seventeenth-century Rome?
Rome 1611. A jewel-bright place of change, with sumptuous new palaces and lavish wealth on constant display. A city where women are seen but not heard.
Artemisia Gentileschi dreams of becoming a great artist. Motherless, she grows up among a family of painters – men and boys. She knows she is more talented than her brothers, but she cannot choose her own future. She belongs to her father and will belong to a husband.
As Artemisia patiently goes from lesson to lesson, perfecting her craft, a mysterious tutor enters her life. Tassi is a dashing figure, handsome and worldly, and for a moment he represents everything that a life of freedom might offer. But then the unthinkable happens. A violent act that threatens Artemisia’s honour, and her virtue.
In the eyes of her family, Artemisia should accept her fate. In the eyes of the law, she is the villain.
But Artemisia is a survivor. And this is her story to tell.
This story is based on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, one of my favorite painters from history. She was an Italian Baroque painter from the 17th century that by the age of 15 was already producing work. In 1611, when Artemisia was a young woman she was raped by Agostino Tassi who was working with her father, Orazio Gentileschi. Nine months later her father pressed charges against Tassi, because it was clear Tassi wasn’t going to mary Artemisia, and a seven-month trial followed. It’s important to say that the charges were not pressed against the rape of Artemisia but violating the Gentileschi family’s honor (meaning her father), which is absolutely insane. Another insane thing is that during the trial Artemisia was tortured with thumbscrews for the purpose of verifying her testimony. Absolutely disgusting if you ask me. Tassi was exiled from Rome but the sentence wasn’t actually carried out. Big surprise there… Even with the rape and trial casting a shadow over Artemesia she still had a successful career as a professional artist, which was really amazing for the time as a woman. She even enjoyed the patronage of the House of Medici and she was the first woman to become a member of the Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence. Her most notable work includes self-portaits, Susanna and the Elders, Judith and Her Maidservant and Judith Slaying Holofernes. I will post pictures of those paintings below.
So needless to say I am very excited to read Disobedient. I think it will be a compelling and powerful read!
Susanna and the Elders (ca 1610) & Judith Slaying Holofernes (ca 1612-1613)
Judith and Her Maidservant (ca 1623–1625) & Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (ca 1638–1639)
UK cover:
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Are you also looking forward to this book?
Leave links to your Can’t-Wait Wednesday post so I can stop by!
Wow, this looks very interesting. She sure was a talented artist.
Absolutely!
OMG. This book sounds fantastic. I am definitely going to read it. The plot sounds just like a Laura Morelli novel. Morelli is one of my favorite authors.
I haven’t read a Laura Morelli book yet myself but her books are on my TBR!
Wow, this sounds amazing! I love her work, I remember studying about her in an art history class. Thanks for sharing, I’m definitely adding this to the list!
I also came across another fiction book about her but with fantasy included. Probably gonna feature it in another CWW post soon!
Wow, her work is incredible and what a life story! She really had to overcome a lot.
I didn’t mention this in the post because it was already so long but in her work she includes a lot of women that were somehow assaulted or treated badly, especially in her bible artworks.
Wow, thanks for posting this. I’m going to look this up. It sounds fabulous.
Yay! 😀
It kills me that I had no idea about her work — ask me about male painters, and I can throw a few names at you that I liked. Her work is gorgeous, and this story is terrifying. But she was clearly a survivor. (thanks for teaching me something new today <3)
You know now about her and that’s what matters! I wanted to include a little history lessons about into the post because I know she’s not super well known to most people. I love her!
OMG I had no idea!!! And yet I adore the Italian Renaissance art! Disgusting indeed Stephanie!
Oh wow, I didn’t know this but that is one tough life story. Definitely sounds like a powerful read!
Man! This sounds really incredible, Stephanie! I hope that you enjoy it when you get the chance to read it. 🙂