The Attribute Restored: Anna Banti as New Historian, Artist, Woman

Abstract

The study will include a translation of Anna Banti’s (1895-1985) Corte Savella (1960) as its nucleus, allowing for the development of a discussion of the style and themes that are consistently found in Banti’s opus. The translation will reflect a careful approach to bridging the distance between two histories and two cultures, as well as two languages (English and Italian). The role of symbolism will also be an integral part of the discussion of Banti’s works. Given her background in art history and her selection of Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1652?) as protagonist of both a play (Corte Savella^ and a novel (Artemisia, 1947), symbolism will be explored in the worlds of art and of literature. Finally, the feminist issues manifested in Banti’s approach to historicism are important to an overall understanding of her oeuvre, particularly in view of Banti’s reluctance to be labeled a feminist.