Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman to be admitted to an art academy, the first to be recognized as an artist, the painter who chose to make her passion for art her reason for living is at the center of the Palazzo Ducale exhibition .

A model of tenacity and genius, of courage and determination, Artemisia Gentileschi was marked by the suffering of the premature death of her mother and by a controversial relationship with her father. Victim of violence, she was forced to be the protagonist of a trial from which she emerged winner and loser at the same time, deeply wounded in her soul.

Within the exhibition itinerary, particular attention is dedicated to the troubled relationship with his father Orazio Gentileschi – illustrious painter of the time, friend of Caravaggio and teacher of Artemisia – which later resulted in a real rivalry. Several close comparisons between canvases with the same subject allow us to understand how the daughter's artistic talent was able to overcome her father's language. The two artists are also put into dialogue with Caravaggio's style. 

Between exciting family events, revolutionary artistic solutions, dramatic images and female triumphs, the exhibition – curated by Costantino D'Orazio – offers a faithful portrait of the complex personality of one of the most famous artists of all time, through over 50 paintings from all of Europe. 

The exhibition is promoted and organized by Arthemisia with Palazzo Ducale Foundation for Culture, Municipality of Genoa and Liguria Region and is part of the initiatives of Genoa Italian Capital of Books 2023