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Artemisia Gentileschi, “Susanna and the Elders”, between 1624 and 1629. Oil on canvas. 162 × 123 cm.
This painting was once part of the renowned Moscow collection of V. Gerasimov, but it was later acquired by us. We immediately noticed that, in terms of artistic execution, it aligns with Artemisia Gentileschi’s style and does not fall short of the artist’s authenticated versions of the “Susanna and the Elders” composition—a view shared by Irina Artemieva, a specialist from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. X-ray analysis revealed the confident and characteristic modeling of figures with intense white brushstrokes, fully consistent with the techniques used by the artist in the original composition from Burghley House in Stamford, even matching it in size.
The study of the painting by experts such as Riccardo Lattuada, Pierluigi Carofano, and Emilio Negro confirmed that the work is indeed by Gentileschi’s hand, and there is no doubt that it is an autograph repetition of the “Susanna and the Elders” painting from England, likely created during her time in Venice. The canvas probably belonged to a significant, well-known collection, as suggested by the wax seals and stamps on the stretcher, though unfortunately, they are no longer legible. Clearly, throughout the third decade of the 17th century, this composition served as the finest “calling card” for Artemisia’s talent, one she could present to circles of connoisseurs and art collectors.
