Join us at the Garibaldi Meucci Museum for a compelling art history presentation exploring how women artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods redefined the portrayal of female figures in art.

Focusing on the groundbreaking work of Artemisia Gentileschi and Elisabetta Sirani, this lecture examines how these two remarkable Italian artists challenged traditional depictions of biblical and mythological women such as Susanna, Judith, Circe, Portia, and Timoclea.

While male artists often portrayed women as passive, timid, and idealized objects of beauty, Gentileschi and Sirani offered a radically different vision. They chose powerful narrative moments — scenes of courage, resistance, and action — presenting women as strong, determined, and fully in control of their destiny. Their works intentionally avoided overt sensuality and instead emphasized heroism, intellect, and emotional depth.

Through a rich visual presentation featuring numerous comparative slides, attendees will see how these artists introduced innovative iconography and a humanized complexity to…