GETTY IMAGESThe art of ArtemisiaStage fright
George – depicted in 1820 as Mozart’s
operatic womaniser Don Giovanni – recoils
in horror as his estranged wife, Queen
Caroline, returns from the continent.
George’s problem was not so much his
adultery as the support of the public for
his wife, whom he was determined should
never be crowned.Judith and Holofernes
1612–13
The best-known and most visceral of
Artemisia’s paintings, Judith and
Holofernes was painted in 1612–13, the
period immediately following the trial of
her rapist. It is hard not to connect the
narrative of the artwork with Artemisia’s
own account of how she threatened her
attacker with a knife.
GETTY IMAGESThe art of Artemisia
Judith and Holofernes
1612–13
Thebest-knownandmostvisceralof
Artemisia’spaintings,Judithand
Holoferneswaspaintedin 1612–13,the
periodimmediatelyfollowingthetrialof
herrapist.It is hardnotto connectthe
narrativeof theartworkwithArtemisia’s
own account ofhowshethreatenedher
attacker with a knife.