A major retrospective celebrating a leading female figure of the Baroque era
From March 19 to August 3, 2025, the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris presents a landmark exhibition: “Artemisia. Heroine of Art”, entirely dedicated to Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the first women in history to earn a living through her art.
Who was Artemisia Gentileschi?
Artemisia Gentileschi (1593 – c.1656) was a 17th-century Italian painter renowned for her emotionally charged and powerful works influenced by Caravaggio. Trained in the studio of her father, Orazio Gentileschi, she made a name for herself on the European art scene at a very young age. She was the first woman to be admitted to Florence’s Academy of Drawing and received prestigious commissions from the Medici family and the English royal court.
Despite her fame during her lifetime, Artemisia was gradually erased from mainstream art history. Only in the 20th century was her legacy reclaimed, and she is now rightly considered one of the most important women artists in history.
A must-see exhibition in Paris
The exhibition “Artemisia. Heroine of Art” features over 40 major works by the artist, with exceptional loans from world-class institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Uffizi Gallery (Florence), Seville Cathedral, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.
Highlights include:
- Susanna and the Elders (1610)
Huile sur toile, Pommersfelden, Graf v. Schönborn’sche Slg.
- Judith and her Maidservant (c. 1615)
Florence, Gallerie degli Uffizi, Galleria Palatina
crédit : Su concessionne del Ministera della Cultura
- Self-Portrait as a Lute Player (1614–1615)
Huile sur toile, 77,5 x 71,8 cm, Hartford CT.Wadsworth Atheneum
Museum of Art,Charles H. Schwartz Endowment Fund
crédit : Allen Phillips/Wadsworth Atheneum
- Yael and Sisera (1620)
Budapest, Szépművészeti Múzeum / Museum of Fine Arts
Photograph Szépművészeti Múzeum/ Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, 2025
- Esther before Ahasuerus (c. 1628)
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Elinor Dorrance Ingersoll, 1969
crédit : courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
📖 Read more in ART MAG n°27:
Artemisia Gentileschi : When the Museum Becomes a Battlefield
A powerful rediscovery of a Baroque master, and a critical reflection on the visibility of women in art history.
A journey through gender and justice in the arts
Beyond the artistic brilliance of the works on view, the exhibition raises a vital question: why was Artemisia Gentileschi—despite her skill and acclaim—left out of the history books for so long?
Even today, less than 7% of the works displayed in the permanent collections of French museums are by women (source: AWARE, 2023). This exhibition acts as both an act of recognition and a corrective to historical neglect, shining a light on a female artist with an exceptional path.
Practical Information
Why you should visit the Artemisia exhibition in Paris
“Artemisia. Heroine of Art” is more than just a major cultural event in Paris—it’s a timely and necessary reflection on the representation of women in museums. Whether you’re a fan of Baroque painting, an advocate for gender equality in the arts, or simply curious, this exhibition is not to be missed.
👉 Don’t miss this rare opportunity to rediscover a brilliant artist finally receiving the recognition she deserves.