Susanna and the Elders by Artemisia Gentileschi (Interpretation and Analysis)

Susanna and the Elders
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Artemisia Gentileschi was one of the finest painters of the Baroque painters. Her work exemplifies the spirit of the movement, demonstrating the drama, energy, movement, and emotion that make Baroque art so engaging. Susanna and the Elders is a first rate example of Gentileschi’s mastery, representing a pinnacle of her artistic production.

The painting depicts the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders, which comes from the Book of Daniel. In the text, Susanna is bathing in her garden when two elders sneak in and attempt to seduce her. When Susanna refuses, they attempt to ruin her reputation by accusing her of adultery. Fortunately, the young Daniel notices inconsistencies in their story and manages to prove Susanna’s innocence. The story—which was assigned multiple allegorical interpretations during this time period—was a popular subject for Baroque painters.

While the subject was common, Gentileschi’s interpretation of it was not. She was one of the first to portray Susanna responding to the Elders’ advances with discomfort and distress. In contrast, most Baroque painters working during the same time period gave Susanna some degree of ambivalence. Their Susannas tend to display mild reactions to the intrusion of the Elders, with some Susannas even giving the appearance of welcoming their attentions. Gentileschi’s approach to Susanna and the Elders evidences her superior powers of imagination and great capacity for artistic expression.

Gentileschi effectively conveys Susanna’s distress by adding a twist to her body, which implies her attempts to escape the gaze of the Elders while also adding an off-kilter energy to the painting that inspires a feeling of discomfort in the viewer. Furthermore, Susanna’s face is tilted away, and her expression clearly conveys her shock and horror at having her privacy so completely invaded. Gentileschi also made the unusual choice of placing the Elders above Susanna in the painting (in other Baroque compositions, the Elders were typically behind or next to Susanna), thus giving them an extra degree of lowering menace.

I should note that much has been made of this painting as it relates to events in Gentileschi’s life. Those who are familiar with biography know that Gentileschi was a survivor of sexual violence and was one of the few women in seventeenth century Italy who was able to successfully prosecute a case against her rapist in court. Some scholars have pointed to Susanna and the Elders as evidence of the trauma she suffered; however, in actuality, the painting was completed before Gentileschi was assaulted.

Instead, I think Susanna and the Elders demonstrates Gentileschi’s ability to understand human psychology and emotions and translate that knowledge to the canvas (no simple task). She uses the baroque style and the visual language it provides to access a deep level of psychological realism, and that is amply apparent in Susanna and the Elders.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.