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Primary sourcePaintingc. 1615-1617

Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Artemisia Gentileschi · c. 1615-1617

Gentileschi depicts herself as the martyred Saint Catherine, painted in Florence after her famous rape trial.

A self-portrait in which Gentileschi presents herself as a martyred saint, central to her modern rediscovery.

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Painting of a woman with auburn hair wearing a cream turban with small golden spikes and a halo, holding a palm frond in one hand and resting the other on a large spiked wheel. She wears a red dress with a gold-yellow cloak against a dark background.
Artemisia Gentileschi, Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria, c. 1615-1617. National Gallery, London.

About this source

What it is

Painted between 1615 and 1617 by Artemisia Gentileschi during her time in Florence, this painting shows the artist in the guise of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, holding a palm frond and resting against a spiked wheel, both symbols of the saint's martyrdom. It is now in the National Gallery, London, purchased in 2018.

Why it matters

This is one of several paintings of female martyrs Gentileschi made after her 1612 rape trial against Agostino Tassi, during which she herself was subjected to physical examination to test her testimony. Research suggests the work began as a plain self-portrait before being altered to depict the saint, showing how Gentileschi used her own image to build her artistic identity.

Look closer

  • What symbols identify the figure as Saint Catherine, and why might the artist have added them later?
  • Why might Gentileschi have repeatedly painted herself as female martyrs after her trial?
  • What does the painting's history of sale and rediscovery tell us about how women artists have been valued over time?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Artemisia Gentileschi on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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