Wow, just intense. The passion of Artemesia when she painted her heroines (Judith and Susanna) which I think are from the Catholic Bible shows how different she viewed the stories than the men did. It was interesting reading this book simultaneously with What Girls are Made of. First of all, in the Girls book, it seemed like it punctuated and celebrated the women of art, despite the scenes depicted. In this book, however, Artemesia has shown the true nature of crimes against women, the fear along with the strength by focusing on faces, and hands.
And, I love that Ms. McCullough was able to pinpoint the feelings and societal suicide of Artemesia and her father in confronting the assaulter and taking him to court. She highlights in both the story of Susanna and the artist's struggles to be believed against the word and expectations of men. She compares the looks of Judith and Artemesia after the brave acts they had done. And Joy McCullough, above all, intrigues the reader with the passion of art verses the purpose to earn money; both essential, but never to be equal.