Artemisia is based on the life of Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi. An important follower of Caravaggio and the first woman member of the Accademia in Florence, Gentileschi was raped at age 16 by Agostino Tassi, an artist with whom she studied. Tassi was sentenced to prison but never served time, and the case overshadowed Gentileschi’s achievements for years. However, today she is regarded as one of the greatest painters of her time.

Listen to the opera here.