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Artemisia Gentileschi's Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (La Pittura)
Artemisia Gentileschi, a 17th-century Italian painter, trained under her father, Orazio. After surviving a rape and public trial involving Agostino Tassi, she channeled her strength into art. Her Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting presents her as the embodiment of painting, asserting women's talent and agency. Using oil on canvas, she highlights her features with light and color, challenging male dominance in art and claiming her place as a successful woman artist. -
Portrait of a Lady created by Mary Beale
Mary Beale, a 17th-century English painter, was largely self-taught and influenced by Sir Peter Lely. She ran a successful portrait studio with her husband, rare for a woman in a male-dominated field. In her 1680 Portrait of a Woman, Beale uses soft tones and a muted background to highlight the subject’s features, portraying her as dignified and strong. Though likely a commission, the work subtly challenges gender roles of the time.