Vous voulez voir cette page en fran�ais ? Cliquez ici.

Quantity:

More Buying Choices

87 used & new from CDN$ 0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Share your own customer images

Search inside this book

Passion Of Artemisia (Paperback)

by Susan Vreeland (Author)

3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (75 customer reviews)

List Price:	CDN$ 15.50
Price:	CDN$ 11.32 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
You Save:	CDN$ 4.18 (27%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

12 new from CDN$ 7.61 75 used from CDN$ 0.01

Frequently Bought Together

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Girl In Hyacinth Blue

by Susan Vreeland

4.0 out of 5 stars (175) CDN$ 14.24

Luncheon Of The Boating Party

by Susan Vreeland

CDN$ 10.95

People Of The Book

by Geraldine Brooks

4.5 out of 5 stars (6) CDN$ 12.05

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Widescreen)

2.8 out of 5 stars (6) CDN$ 21.49

› Explore similar items

Product Details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Penguin Paperbacks (Dec 31 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142001821
ISBN-13: 978-0142001820
Product Dimensions: 18.8 x 11.4 x 2.5 cm
Shipping Weight: 295 g

Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (75 customer reviews)

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #134,932 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

From Amazon.com

Like her bestselling debut, Girl in Hyacinth Blue, Susan Vreeland's second novel, The Passion of Artemisia, traces a particular painting through time: in this case, the post-Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi's violent masterpiece, "Judith." Although the novel purports to cover the life of the painter, the painting serves as a touchstone, foreshadowing Artemisia's rape by Agostino Tassi, an assistant in her father's painting studio in Rome; the well-documented (and humiliating) trial that followed; the early days of her hastily arranged marriage; and her eventual triumph as the first woman elected to the Accademia dell' Arte in Florence. Although Vreeland makes a bit free with her characters (which she admits in her introduction), attributing some decidedly modern attitudes to people who would not have thought that way at the time, her book is beautifully researched and rich with casual detail of clothing, interiors, and street life. She deftly works history and politics into the background of her canvas, keeping her focus on Artemisia and her family. Beyond the paintings Artemisia left behind, Vreeland's vision may be as close as we can come to understanding the anger and ambition that kept this talented woman at the doors of the Accademia, demanding entrance, in a time when respectable women rarely left their homes. --Regina Marler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Vreeland follows up the success of Girl in Hyacinth Blue with another novel delving into the themes of art, history and the lives of women. Narrated in the wise, candid first-person voice of Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653), the novel tells the story of Gentileschi's life and career in Renaissance Italy. Publicly humiliated and scorned in Rome after her participation as defendant in a rape trial in which the accused is her painting teacher (and father's friend) Agostino Tassi, Artemisia accepts a hastily arranged marriage at the age of 18 to Pietro Stiatessi, an artist in Florence. Her marriage, while not a love match, proves at first to be affectionate, and the arrival of a daughter, Palmira, strengthens the bond with her husband. But rifts soon develop as Artemisia begins to have some success: she wins the patronage of the Medicis and is the first woman to be elected to the Accademia dell'Arte before her husband. Studio and home become the battlefields of Artemisia's life, and Vreeland chronicles 20 years of the painter's struggles while raising her daughter alone. Details and visuals abound in the book; readers who loved the painterly descriptions of Girl will be spellbound in particular by the scenes in which Artemisia is shown at work. While some threads in the story are frustratingly dropped and the narrative concludes before the end of Artemisia's life, the underlying themes of familial and artistic reconciliation are satisfyingly developed. Forthright and imaginative, Vreeland's deft recreation ably showcases art and life. Agent, Barbara Braun. (Jan. 14)Forecast: Fans of Girl in Hyacinth Blue will be pleased with The Passion of Artemisia, which reprises many of the themes of its predecessor. Published to coincide with an exhibition of the works of Gentileschi and her father in New York City and St. Louis, the book will also be promoted by Vreeland's 12-city author tour, and has been named Book Sense's #1 pick for January/February. Expect happy sales. Rights sold in Denmark, England, Finland and Germany.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)

Explore More
Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?

	79% buy the item featured on this page: Passion Of Artemisia 3.8 out of 5 stars (75) CDN$ 11.32
	21% buy Luncheon Of The Boating Party CDN$ 10.95

Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

75 Reviews

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(7)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (75 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Touching Journey of a Well Known Woman in the 17th Century, April 10 2008

By	Teddy (Richmond, BC) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Passion of Artemisia (Audio CD)

As the book opens, we find Artemisia, Italian Painter, at age 18 in court. At first it appears that she is the accused, however she is the witness being put through a painful form of torture to make sure she is telling the truth. The truth is that she was raped by the painting instructor hired by her father. Her father is more interested in getting his painting back than objecting to the torture his daughter goes through. He gets the painting back before the trail is over and drops the rape charges.

We follow Artemisia through all of her ups and downs, her marriage, child, and her extraordinary painting. She was a woman before her time and holds her head high. She ends up supporting herself and her daughter though her painting.

This touching story is written in beautiful prose, like the paintings of Artemisia herself. I felt as if I was there in the 17th century, experiencing Artemisia up's and down's with her.

The only complaint I have is that Vreeland chose to close the book at the end of Artemisia's father's death, rather than give closure to how Artemisia lived out the rest of her life. She however does give show important closure between Artemisia and her father.

I listened to the audio CD version of this book. The narrator, Bermingham Gigi was quite amazing. She has a beautiful voice that enhanced the characters and story, rather than detracting from, as sometimes happens with audio books.

I highly recommend this lovely and engaging story of a strong woman in Italian history.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll be passionate about this book, Jul 27 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Passion of Artemesia: Cassette (Audio Cassette)

I came upon this book by accident and this may indeed be the reason for its success for me--it wasn't over-hyped or suggested by a friend as the "next best thing." Having known nothing about "Artemisia," I purchased this book because I enjoyed "Girl in Hyacinth Blue," yet another book I found on my own. Let me tell you, this book is so much better. While reading the descriptions of the scene on each page, it is easy to put yourself right there and imagine yourself living in Italy in the 1600s. For example, while describing the herb garden at the convent, you can almost smell the oregano described on the page. Few authors have this kind of talent. Also recommended, but not over-hyped: THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!, May 18 2004

By	M. Roudabush (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had studied Artemisia in a Women's Art History class in college, so I had some idea about her biography. And I think Vreeland did an amazing job of stringing out a believable tale of what her life was really like. This book really captured the essence of "Judith" and offered a believable account of what Artemisia must have been thinking when she painted it. It's the only Susan Vreeland book I've read (and the least known, unfortunately!), and I can't wait to read another! I couldn't put this one down!

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 75 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Can't More Books Be Written Like This?
This book was so beautifully written, I could not put it down! It is about the true artist Artemisia, who lived in the 1600's in Europe. Read more

Published on May 7 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Vreeland's Artemisia: Incandescent
Vreeland's character of Artemisia brings to life a 400 year old story, revising the myth surrounding women in art. Read more

Published on May 1 2004 by Katherine Frederick

5.0 out of 5 stars a novel of . . . novel substance
Pardon the pun, but this is a novel approach to a novel subject, taking the form of a novel. Like Vreeland's GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE, the canvas she paints is extrordinary and... Read more

Published on Mar 26 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Italian canvas
This book certainly hooks you in early. I couldn't put it down and I knew nothing of the real Artemisia Gentileschi, so I had no other story to compare to. Read more

Published on Mar 12 2004 by Laudan Tehrani