Hamilton Gallery, in the Southern Grampians in Victoria, recently hosted an exhibition titled Emerging from Darkness - Faith, Emotion and the Body in the Baroque. It was a collaboration between Hamilton Gallery, The National Gallery of Victoria, The National Gallery of Australia and private collectors,
bringing together some of the most significant works of European art in Australia.
Although the emphasis was on female artists, Artemesia Gentileschi, Lavinia Fontana and Sofonisba Anguissola, most of the works were from male artists. Obviously it's more difficult to represent women artists when there are not numerous works to choose from, but the quality more than made up for lack of numbers.
The Gentileschi painting, Lucretia, was a standout. The combination of monumental drawing and delicacy of light, fused into a powerful image. Every centimetre rang true. But there were many standouts. These artists knew how to paint and draw but they also understood their materials. So many of the paintings looked as if they were painted a few months ago rather than centuries ago.
The quality of the works made the trip to Hamilton Gallery so worth while, you left with a feeling of satisfaction!
Artemisia Gentileschi - Lucretia, 1630-35, oil on canvas
Sofonisba Anguissola - Portrait of a Prelate, 1556, oil on canvas
Lavinia Fontana - Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine,
1574-77, oil on copper
Unknown artist
Carlo Maratti - Studies for the head of Jael, 1686, red chalk
Charles Le Brun - The Entry of Alexander in Babylon, 1700-25,
after a design of 1688, wool and silk
