Regardless, it's a great story that's had much appeal to artists for many centuries. Beauty, sex and blood (the Jewish widow Judith slicing off the head of Holofernes, an Assyrian general) is almost irresistible subject matter that happens to be validated in the Roman Catholic Bible.
Many painting were made of that event, and a sampling is presented below in chronological order.
Here she seems calm, perhaps satisfied with her work.
Holofernes is rather gruesome, but Judith is well-dressed and without a trace of spattered blood.
I regard this as the most satisfying depiction from a psychological standpoint: note her expression as well as his.
As mostly usual, no sign of spilled blood.
This is bloody and perhaps inspired by Caravaggio's painting. It's also likely the most realistic depiction of an actual event of that kind.
Holofernes is absent here.
Here too.
Painted during Klimt's gold-leaf decorative phase, and almost as famous as Caravaggio's work.
This shows Judith on her way to dispose of Holofernes.
Another fascinating Klimt painting. I made this photo in Venice, where it reposes in the Ca' Pesaro museum.
1 comment:
Holofernes's head is present in August Riedel's painting. Look at the bottom left corner: there's a hairy mass.
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