Aurora 1627

Artemisia Gentileschi painted this representation of Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, sometime in her career. The dynamic pose and dramatic lighting are typical of the Baroque style that dominated Italian art institutions in the 17th century. But Gentileschi brings her own perspective to this tradition. Aurora's active, almost strained, gesture departs from the more passive female nudes that were typical of the period. The goddess seems to be striding purposefully into the dawn, rather than simply appearing as a beautiful object for the viewer's gaze. Gentileschi was a rare woman working as a painter in this era, navigating a male-dominated art world. Her ability to secure commissions from powerful patrons, and recognition from institutions like the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence, depended in part on her ability to negotiate traditional expectations of women, while also demonstrating her skills and innovation as an artist. As historians, we have access to letters, legal documents, and other records that shed light on Gentileschi's life and career. Examining these resources can help us to understand how social conditions and institutional structures shaped the art she produced.