Orazio Gentileschi is one of the most important Italian painters of the Baroque period. Born Orazio Lomi in Pisa in 1563, he was the son of a Florentine goldsmith and Maria Gentileschi, about whom not much is known, but whose family name he later adopted. At the young age of 15, Orazio Gentileschi made his way to Rome to live with his uncle, who at the time was captain of the guards at Castel Sant'Angelo, a former mausoleum for Roman emperors. Exactly how Orazio Gentileschi found his way to the fine arts and who trained him is not known. What is clear, however, is that the love of art ran in his family. Two of the artist's brothers and his daughter Artemisia Gentileschi also enjoyed great success in the arts. Artemisia was among the first women ever to gain a foothold in art. Gentle motifs, which were typical for female artists at that time, can hardly be found in Artemisia Gentileschi's works; instead, she processed traumatic experiences, such as sexual violence directed against her, in her paintings. A novelty at the time.
Orazio Gentileschi supported his daughter in her artistic ambitions, paving the way for the Gentileschi dynasty of artists, whose works are still shown and exhibited in the most important museums in the world. Throughout his life and artistic work, the artist devoted himself primarily to Christian-religious motifs. His style is characterized by realism, but also a preference for elegance and refinement. Pin sharp colors and perfection in every little detail, these are two unmistakable characteristics of Gentileschi. The Italian painter Caravaggio and his revolutionary style of realistic imagery also influenced Gentileschi's art, although the artist never lost a Baroque-typical penchant for loveliness in his works. His time in Rome was marked by many ups and downs. Two scandalous trials shook his life. In 1603 he was sued by Giovanni Baglione for slander. The latter accused him and three other artists, including Caravaggio, of circulating pamphlets directed against him in Rome.
However, Gentileschi had a life-changing lawsuit against the quadrature painter Agostino Tassi, with whom he once collaborated on significant fresco decorations. The friendship and collaboration ended abruptly, however, when it became known that Tassi had raped his then only 17-year-old daughter Artemisia while she was apprenticed to him. Orazio Gentileschi then sued Tassi and a scandalous trial began that shook Rome. When Tassi got off with a lenient sentence, banishment from Rome, Gentileschi also left the city after some time. The artist no longer wanted to stay in Rome. Shaken by fate, but artistically at the height of his creative powers, he found his way to Genoa in 1621, where he created some of his most famous paintings, such as "Lot and his Daughters" and "Danae with the Golden Rain". The painter had now finally found his unique style. Today his works hang, among others, in the Museo de Bellas Artes in Bilbao and in Marlborough House in London's Westminster.
Orazio Gentileschi is one of the most important Italian painters of the Baroque period. Born Orazio Lomi in Pisa in 1563, he was the son of a Florentine goldsmith and Maria Gentileschi, about whom not much is known, but whose family name he later adopted. At the young age of 15, Orazio Gentileschi made his way to Rome to live with his uncle, who at the time was captain of the guards at Castel Sant'Angelo, a former mausoleum for Roman emperors. Exactly how Orazio Gentileschi found his way to the fine arts and who trained him is not known. What is clear, however, is that the love of art ran in his family. Two of the artist's brothers and his daughter Artemisia Gentileschi also enjoyed great success in the arts. Artemisia was among the first women ever to gain a foothold in art. Gentle motifs, which were typical for female artists at that time, can hardly be found in Artemisia Gentileschi's works; instead, she processed traumatic experiences, such as sexual violence directed against her, in her paintings. A novelty at the time.
Orazio Gentileschi supported his daughter in her artistic ambitions, paving the way for the Gentileschi dynasty of artists, whose works are still shown and exhibited in the most important museums in the world. Throughout his life and artistic work, the artist devoted himself primarily to Christian-religious motifs. His style is characterized by realism, but also a preference for elegance and refinement. Pin sharp colors and perfection in every little detail, these are two unmistakable characteristics of Gentileschi. The Italian painter Caravaggio and his revolutionary style of realistic imagery also influenced Gentileschi's art, although the artist never lost a Baroque-typical penchant for loveliness in his works. His time in Rome was marked by many ups and downs. Two scandalous trials shook his life. In 1603 he was sued by Giovanni Baglione for slander. The latter accused him and three other artists, including Caravaggio, of circulating pamphlets directed against him in Rome.
However, Gentileschi had a life-changing lawsuit against the quadrature painter Agostino Tassi, with whom he once collaborated on significant fresco decorations. The friendship and collaboration ended abruptly, however, when it became known that Tassi had raped his then only 17-year-old daughter Artemisia while she was apprenticed to him. Orazio Gentileschi then sued Tassi and a scandalous trial began that shook Rome. When Tassi got off with a lenient sentence, banishment from Rome, Gentileschi also left the city after some time. The artist no longer wanted to stay in Rome. Shaken by fate, but artistically at the height of his creative powers, he found his way to Genoa in 1621, where he created some of his most famous paintings, such as "Lot and his Daughters" and "Danae with the Golden Rain". The painter had now finally found his unique style. Today his works hang, among others, in the Museo de Bellas Artes in Bilbao and in Marlborough House in London's Westminster.
Page 1 / 1