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Thanks for recommending the movie. It was terrific! I can never watch anything without nitpicking, though. According to the movie, Agostino Tassi was sentenced to two years in prison for the crime of raping Artemesia. I have read elsewhere, he was acquitted. It seems the rape and Artemesia's torture at the trial, combined with his acquittal, caused her a considerable amount of emotional distress throughout her life. Some of her more violent works are attributed to her trying to deal with the pain. (Judith and Holofernes, for example.) Does anyone have any further information on this?
Secondly, with regard to the art of landscape painting. I'm currently studying 19th Century French Art and Culture. Prior to the popularity of the Barbizon school and the Impressionist movement, landscape painting was considered "bottom of the barrel" work, so to speak, just under portraiture. (No offense. That's just the way it was.) I felt the movie, "Artemesia," attempted to glorify the landscape (200 years before it's time) by showing Artemesia and Agostino growing rapturous over it. It is my impression, during that time period and in that place (17th century, Rome), the glory of art was to be spent on religious work. Landscape was not a priority. Am I wrong on this? (I don't think so. I have yet to see a serious piece of landscape from the 17th century. I'd love to, if anyone can point me to it.) Of course, the rapture in the movie could have simply been a lead in to the rapture in the bedroom and I'm making more of this than need be. Poetic license.
Anyway, it was a great story. Wonderful movie. The conflict kept me on the edge of my seat and it introduced me to Artemesia Gentileschi. I had never heard of her and her work is quite good and very inspirational. Thank you, again.
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