Artemisia Gentileschi was born in Rome and taught painting by her father, Orazio (1563 – 1639), an early follower of Caravaggio. She also worked in Florence, Venice, Naples, and London. From Caravaggesque beginnings, her style gradually changed to more graceful designs and a lighter palette tending toward Venetian colourism. Among her clients were the Archduke of Tuscany and King Philip IV of Spain. She was the first woman artist to gain a reputation as a history painter and the first to be elected member of the illustrious Accademia del Disegno in Florence.

The art of Artemisia Gentileschi often focused on strong women. One of them was Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of scholars, martyred for her faith in the 4th century. The virgin’s individualised facial features and steady gaze bear witness to her courage. Her attributes are a book and a palm frond. Her purple silk dress indicates royal birth. The light, symbolizing divine inspiration, makes the strong figure stand out in sharp relief.