A painting by Artemisia Gentileschi titled "Mary Magdalena in Ecstasy" sold for 865,000 euros,
nearly three times its presale estimate, at Sotheby's on June 26 2014 in
Paris,a price which set a new world record price for the 17th-century Baroque
artist.
This rediscovered work was until recently only documented in an old
black and white photograph from the archives of an Italian dealer who probably
sold it at the beginning of the 20th century to the great grand-father of the seller
living in southern France.
Gentileschi
produced a Caravaggesque work depicting Mary Magdalene as a mere person making
her sacred status as secondary.
Artemisia Gentileschi was one of the rare famous female artists in 17th-century Italy, Celebrated as an
exceptional figure, She was the daughter and apprentice of Orazio Gentileschi,
a much acclaimed artist.
Beside producing striking compositions which earned
her recognition and commissions throughout Italy and Europe, she gained fame in
winning a notable rape case hailed as major feminist victory against Agostino
Tassi, an artist who almost destroyed her reputation.
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