Prefatory Poems | Examples

Artemisia, Part 1 of 12

(A true story.  In the year 1612, a young artist
named Artemisia Gentileschi, native of Rome,
was raped by one of her father's artist colleagues.
This is the tale of the subsequent criminal trial
and its impact on Artemisia's art.)


Prefatory Sonnet 

My tale is of a rape.  As plain as that.
In sixteen twelve or so, these things took place
in Rome.  Her father’s friend (you smell a rat?)
surprised her in her home, that year of grace,
and robbed her of her innocence.  His name
was Tassi.  We’ll learn more of him anon.
Three painters are our principals, but claim
no immortality – well, maybe one.
The three were father, daughter, father’s friend,
and Artemisia (the best of all!)
 She soon progressed from copy, grind and blend
and in Rospigliosi took a wall.
Today, collectors crave her canvas craft
so she laughs longest (having lastly laughed).