Quotes from Anna Banti

There was nothing on any of the canvasses that she would have liked to hide or conceal, nor was she ashamed of being thus exposed through her work, good or bad though it might be, the essence, the unique flavour of days when she had been happily engrossed in recreating a face or a garment, in inventing an effective light, in applying an expressive glaze.

Vedranno chi è Artemisia» le vien detto. L'alterigia fanciullesca e un po' smargiassa della sua natura viene allora a confortarla, angelo nero e puerile, innocente e forte che torna pian piano a custodirla. Esso ignora l'umiltà, la dolcezza, il dubbio cauto e ombroso dello stato femminile; nulla trattiene il vento dalle sue ali.

The slight wind increased, the bellies of the vessels creaked as they rocked on their moorings, and a swarm of rowboats could be seen rushing swiftly to shore, shaving the sides of the ships, the oarsmen competing vigorously and with loud shouts to overtake each other.

Durasse per sempre il buio, nessuno mi riconoscerebbe per donna, inferno per me, male per gli altri.