Rating: 
Summary: For Art History Lovers
Review: This wonderful novel is about the life of 17th century female Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi. The first few chapters familiarize readers with all the elements that went into making a female artist at a time when the occupation was exclusively for men. Readers are introduced to Italy, Artemisia's father, the painter Orazio Gentileschi, the intense rivalry between artists, and the fact that during that time, artists were celebrities seeking fame and fortune. The next sections of the book, until almost the halfway point, are about Artemisia's relationship with Agostino Tassi and the trial that ensues. Agostino was a friend and colleague of Artemisia's father and the man who takes her virginity out of wedlock - a crime the family must defend their honor against - and Tassi is accused of rape, arrested, and tried in Roman court. The author includes a great deal of historical fact, and speculates where documentation is missing, then seamlessly resumes the story so that the book reads like part history, part journalism and part storytelling. However, the second half of the novel was more history with elements of a story than a story steeped in historical detail. This may be due to the fact that the author is extremely faithful to the information of history and felt uncomfortable inventing motivations where there was not enough documentation to support such notions. So, there are several periods of her life that feel like sketches and I wished that the author had invented some for the sake of the story and keeping me interested, but I also liked knowing that the events were grounded in research. Artemisia struggles throughout her life with her desire and drive to become a great painter and win the approval and recognition of her father. Throughout the rest of the book Artemisia has love affairs, several children, and paints in Florence, Rome, and Naples to name a few places. She participates in a great acquisition of masterpieces by the English, socializes with royalty and receives commissions from the papacy. She lived a remarkable life, and enjoyed exceptional success and freedom for a woman. I was so happy that there were color images of the most discussed paintings in the book, as well as maps that helped me to orient myself to the whereabouts of Artemisia in Italy and Europe. I do recommend having access to the internet since you may want to view some other artworks mentioned. I didn't give this book 5 stars because there was a period about three quarters through the book when I was bored, but I persevered and the ending was satisfying and the book was excellent overall.
Rating:
Summary: For Art History Lovers
Review: This wonderful novel is about the life of 17th century female Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi. The first few chapters familiarize readers with all the elements that went into making a female artist at a time when the occupation was exclusively for men. Readers are introduced to Italy, Artemisia's father, the painter Orazio Gentileschi, the intense rivalry between artists, and the fact that during that time, artists were celebrities seeking fame and fortune. The next sections of the book, until almost the halfway point, are about Artemisia's relationship with Agostino Tassi and the trial that ensues. Agostino was a friend and colleague of Artemisia's father and the man who takes her virginity out of wedlock - a crime the family must defend their honor against - and Tassi is accused of rape, arrested, and tried in Roman court. The author includes a great deal of historical fact, and speculates where documentation is missing, then seamlessly resumes the story so that the book reads like part history, part journalism and part storytelling. However, the second half of the novel was more history with elements of a story than a story steeped in historical detail. This may be due to the fact that the author is extremely faithful to the information of history and felt uncomfortable inventing motivations where there was not enough documentation to support such notions. So, there are several periods of her life that feel like sketches and I wished that the author had invented some for the sake of the story and keeping me interested, but I also liked knowing that the events were grounded in research. Artemisia struggles throughout her life with her desire and drive to become a great painter and win the approval and recognition of her father. Throughout the rest of the book Artemisia has love affairs, several children, and paints in Florence, Rome, and Naples to name a few places. She participates in a great acquisition of masterpieces by the English, socializes with royalty and receives commissions from the papacy. She lived a remarkable life, and enjoyed exceptional success and freedom for a woman. I was so happy that there were color images of the most discussed paintings in the book, as well as maps that helped me to orient myself to the whereabouts of Artemisia in Italy and Europe. I do recommend having access to the internet since you may want to view some other artworks mentioned. I didn't give this book 5 stars because there was a period about three quarters through the book when I was bored, but I persevered and the ending was satisfying and the book was excellent overall.
Rating: 
Summary: History, Novel, or Hybrid, Very Well Done
Review: When the Authoress learns Latin and Italian as by-products of her research, the result should be special, and in the case of Artemisia, the result is very special. I don't understand how this could have been marketed anywhere as a Biography, Ms. Lapierre is very clear prior to the start of her work, and in over 60 pages of some of the best notes I have ever read, that she made the decision to tell this as a story, not pure History. A Biography whether authorized or not, is always subject to editorial, selective use of research materials, or in the case of some writers who should write for tabloids, deliberate distortions, selective use of facts, or not understanding the difference between fact and fiction. When the notes are read, Ms. Lapierre appears to have been so diligent as to facts, sources, and suppositions; it is tempting to think of this as a Historical work. The Protagonist is an amazing study. A Genius in art who was officially affirmed as such during a time when Women were never considered as much more than property. A courageous woman, who tempted a range of horrors by demanding the corrupt legal system deliver her justice. Here was a woman who challenged the Catholic Church, and some of its more unsavory historical despots, again to demand that the truth be known and the culprits punished. That she persisted is amazing, that she prevailed to the degree she did, astonishing. This work brought to mind another strong, unconventional woman of influence, who was brought to readers in book form under the title "Georgiana". I would suggest that anyone who enjoyed the latter will find "Artemisia" a very engaging read. None of this would have been possible without the work of Ms. Lapierre. It would be better said, her extraordinary work, as this is the book to read on Artemisia Gentileschi, if you choose only one. This work is readable without condescension; it is scholarly without being dense and pompous until rendered unreadable. The book is simply wonderful. You need only to enjoy good writing to enjoy this book. If you are familiar with other artists of the period, more detail will be there for you, and Galileo makes an appearance as well. Extremely good, deserves much more attention than the work has garnered thus far.
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