Search - The Passion of Artemisia

I really enjoyed this book and have recommended it to several people. Artemisia is a real painter in renaissance Italy but the story is fictional. Susan Vreeland really combines the real aspects of Artemisia's life with the fiction beautifully. This book had me researching Artemisia to see her paintings. You can find them on-line by doing a simple search. It is interesting to see the paintings that has been described in the book.

This is a great book. It has to do with a woman painter in old-time Italy. She went through a lot in this book. She was raped as a teenager and brought her rapist to trial, where the rapist said she was a whore. After the trial she gets married off by her father to a poor painter with a wandering eye... it was really good.

Vreeland's fictionalised tale of painter Artemisia Gentileschi is a must-read. I could hardly put this down once I began reading. She melds fiction and history into a wonderfully engaging tale.

I majored in art history in college and taught art for 21 years. I love stories about artists. I first read Susan Vreeland when I found her new book on Tiffany and his female artists at our local library. I liked that book very much so I proceeded to read all the other books she had written about artists and also enjoyed them all very much. I placed orders for three on PBS and am happy to have them in my home library.

Without question, Vreeland has done a lot of research, and it shows. Influenced by her father's art and the controversial Caravaggio, Artemisia's paintings bring to life with vivid talent some of the darker moments from the Bible and historical legend. Absorbing and richly described, The Passion of Artemisia is a beautiful, and sometimes gritty, insight into Baroque Italy's artists, patrons, and even religion. Artemisia's life is visually detailed by Vreeland, as descriptive and thought-provoking as Gentileschi's actual paintings. The end result is a most satisfying read, of an engaging and tangible view into life for a female artist during one of the most influential times of Italian art.

Those who are interested in art, the process of mixing paints and applying to canvas, and how a painting is translated from the mind to the canvas, will truly enjoy this book. If you liked Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, then you will most likely enjoy The Passion of Artemisa by Susan Vreeland. I look forward to the next audio production of Susan Vreeland's Girl in Hyacinth Blue, also narrated by Gigi Bermingham, and also focusing on art.

Thoughts on the Audio
This is my first audio book that I actually enjoyed! Many of you know that I've struggled with finding a good one. Vreeland's story of this historical figure felt genuine and thorough, and the usage of the Italian language peppered throughout is wonderfully engaging and kept me enthralled. In fact, this is one of those books where I believe (based on the overall professional production of it) that I would much prefer the audio to the printed version.

Part of my enjoyment of this audio production was Gigi Bermingham's lyrical and fluid narration. When reviewing her background, it's no surprise that she is also registered with the Screen Actors Guild and has done film and television. Effectively maneuvering through the Italian language with an ease of an Italian born in Rome, Bermingham carried the story effortlessly. There was a clear and distinct voice to each of the characters, men included, and never once did I feel distracted. Combined with musical interludes introducing chapters, this audio production was exactly what I needed to feel more comfortable with listening to books.

I loved this book as I am truly fascinated with the subject. One Artemisas's Judiths is here in Detroit and I was lucky enough to see other work when I visited Italy. What a life! Vreeland did an excellent job without going too far in the novelization.