18th August, 2021
Meet the 2020 competition winners – Madeleine Friedlein
‘The title is taken from my favourite work of Artemisia Gentileschi, ‘Judith Slaying Holofernes’, completed following her rape by Agostino Tassi. The rage she felt is evident in this painting, so I wanted to capture this in my fictionalised piece on her court-case. Artemisia was not the only woman to have been abused in such a way, nor will she be the last, and recent news supports this. Her perseverance and eventual success despite torture and injustice shows a strength we can learn from.’
The judges said:
‘Slaying Holofernes is a stirring and compassionate story from this young writer. Madeleine Friedlein expertly balances the external horror of Artemisia Gentileschi’s torture against her inner fury and the iron will which will bring her attacker to justice. A striking and powerful story.’
Click the links below to read Madeleine’s story in full, and to listen to an audio reading of the story.