UK Edition
National Gallery fulfils 'long-held dream' to buy £3.6m first work by female artist in 27 years
The National Gallery has acquired its first work by a woman in nearly 30 years, as it pays £3.6million to help realise a “long-held dream” of redressing its lack of female artists.
The self-portrait by Artemisia Gentileschi will become just the 21st painting by a female artist held in the gallery’s permanent collection, with women making up less than 1 per cent of its 2,300 works.
The oil painting, acquired using funds from trusts and major donors and dated from 1615-17, depicts the artist as Saint Catherine of Alexandria in a rare and newly-discovered self-portrait which came to light at a French auction last year.
Hannah Rothschild, who in 2015 became the first woman to chair the National Gallery Board of Trustees, said: “The acquisition of this great painting by Artemisia Gentileschi realises a long-held dream of increasing the National Gallery's collection of paintings by important women artists.
“Gentileschi was a pioneer, a master storyteller, and one of the most progressive and expressive painters of the period.
“One of a handful of women who was able to shatter the confines of her time, she overcame extreme personal difficulties to succeed in the art of painting.
“This picture will help us transform how we collect, exhibit and tell the story of women artists throughout history.”
Gentileschi, a follower of Caravaggio, was the first female members of the Accademia del Disegno in Florence, with painting works for notable contemporaries including the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Charles I of England, and Philip IV of Spain.
Born in 1593, she trained under her father, the painter Orazio Gentileschi, whose works are already in the National Gallery.
In 1611, she was raped by Agostino Tassi, a collaborator of her father’s, with a subsequent seven-month court case seeing her humiliated and physically tortured as she testified.
The National Gallery said: “Her biography has long overshadowed her artistic achievements, but she is now recognised as one of the most talented painters of her generation.”
Artemisia Gentileschi’s paintings have often been interpreted as autobiographical, usually featuring strong female heroines, repeatedly based on her own image and utilised as a symbol of feminist empowerment.
Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria includes a broken spiked wheel, which Catherine escaped before being beheaded and martyred.
The painting, which had been lost to history, emerged at auction in Paris in December, sold to a dealer for an artist record of €2,360,600.
Brought to the attention of the National Gallery, its new owner was tracked down by curators and a sale arranged for £3.6 million thanks to major donations from the American Friends of the National Gallery, the National Gallery Trust, Art Fund’s Sir Denis Mahon legacy, Lord and Lady Sassoon, Lady Getty, and Hannah Rothschild.
It will be conserved before going on display early next year.
The National Gallery currently has 20 works by women in its collection. The first was bought in 1878, Portrait of a Man by Catharina van Hemessen c1552, while the latest, a series of five works by Paula Rego, were presented in 1991.
Gabriele Finaldi, National Gallery director, said: “The National Gallery’s remit covers Western European painting from around 1250 to 1900.
“However, for a great deal of this period women were largely denied the same opportunities that were afforded to men and as a result only a handful were able to succeed in the art of painting.
“Therefore, works by women artists of this period are very rare compared to works by male artists, and our collection reflects that historical fact.
“However, although it is far more difficult for us to purchase great works by women artists, the National Gallery regularly works with women artists for its exhibitions and other programmes – most recently with Tacita Dean.
“We have more exciting plans for the future that we will be announcing over the coming months.”