Artemisia Gentileschi's Life Retold in Feminist Graphic Novel

A new graphic novel titled 'Artemisia' by French creators Nathalie Ferlut (writer) and Tamia Baudoin (artist) recounts the life of Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1652). Published by Coconino in Rome in 2018, the 96-page book adopts a feminist perspective, framing the story as a carriage journey from Rome to London in winter 1638, during which Gentileschi's daughter Prudenzia questions her mother and nurse Marta about the artist's past. Central to the narrative is the rape by painter Agostino Tassi, a colleague of her father Orazio Gentileschi, and the subsequent public trial. The book also highlights the technical discussions among painters about drapery, decoration, and architecture, which are reflected in Baudoin's artwork. Notably, the name 'Artémisia' is also the name of a French comics prize established in 2008 by Chantal Montellier to recognize female comic artists; in 2018, the Grand Prix was awarded for the first time to an Italian, Lorena Canottiere from Turin, for her book 'Verdad'.