The fruit of years of research and interviews, Alexandra Lapierre’s magnificent novel recounts the struggles, victories, and heartbreaks of a woman who is free, astonishingly determined, daring, and fully, exuberantly alive. Apprenticed at an early age to her father, the seventeenth-century painter Orazio Gentileschi, she rapidly became more famous than he was, for her rich, dramatic canvases. Torn between history’s ineluctable imperatives and the freedom to belong to the society of her choosing, Belle’s drama, which plays out in a violently racist America, is one that resonates forcefully, and illuminatingly even today. Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the most fascinating artists in history. Although she looks white, she is African American, the daughter of a famous black activist who sees her desire to hide her origins as the consummate betrayal. Morgan, darling of the international aristocracy and one of the city’s richest men.įlamboyant, brilliant, beautiful, Belle is among New York society’s most sought after intellectuals. However, she was raped by one of Orazio’s colleagues, Agostino Tassi, and when Artemisia denounced him. Alexandra studied painting under her father, who recognized her extraordinary talent. Fanny Stevenson and Artemisia, and have garnered her numerous awards. Discover why Artemisia by Alexandra Lapierre is such a great book to read. Browse Alexandra Lapierres best-selling audiobooks and newest titles. A young girl fascinated by rare books defies all odds and becomes the director of one of the country’s most prestigious private libraries. An international best-seller, Artemisia is based on the passionate story of one of the Western worlds first significant female artists. Discover why Artemisia by Alexandra Lapierre is such a great book to read. Based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, a woman who defied all odds to carve out a destiny of her own choosing, this is a richly imagined novel bursting with atmosphere, lush period detail, and many unforgettable characters.