Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–c.1656) was an Italian Baroque painter known for her powerful depictions of biblical and mythological heroines, characterized by dramatic use of light and shadow and intense emotional expression. As one of the few successful female artists of her time, she is celebrated for works like "Judith Slaying Holofernes" and "Susanna and the Elders." Her paintings are held in prestigious collections, including the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Louvre in Paris, and the National Gallery in London. In today's art market, Artemisia's works have fetched significant sums; her painting "Lucretia" sold for $5.3 million at an auction in Paris in November 2019, setting a record for her work. "Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy" sold for £4.8 million at Sotheby's in London in July 2014.
