Banti was born in
Florence. In her youth she spent time in
Rome, attending the
University of Rome and
Bologna before returning permanently to
Florence. At the university, she received a degree in art history. Her pseudonym derived from "an exceptionally beautiful woman" she knew in her youth. She married art critic
Roberto Longhi and in 1950 they founded and edited the bi-monthly art magazine
Paragone. Banti published a number of stories over the next decades, among which the novella,
Lavinia fuggita, remains important for its close thematic relationship to her well- known historical novel,
Artemisia, based on the painter
Artemisia Gentileschi. So identified was Banti with the painter, that one newspaper headlined their report of Banti's death as
Addio, Artemisia. The novel revived interest in Gentileschi's work and life. Banti's autobiographical work,
Un Grido Lacerante, published in 1981, won the Antonio Feltrinelli Prize. As well as being a successful author, Banti is recognized as a literary, cinematic, and art critic. After the death of Longhi in 1970, she replaced him as the editor of
Paragone. Banti died on 2 September 1985 in
Massa, and is buried at
Cimitero degli Allori in Florence. Roberto Longhi created the Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi (also known as Fondazione Roberto Longhi) upon his death. He bequeathed the foundation his art collection, books and photographs. Lopresti bequeathed their home, the Villa Il Tasso (also known as Villa Il Ficalbo) to the foundation. The foundation was created after her husband’s death to encourage the development of art history studies. ==Anna Banti's Works Translated into English==