Judith Beheading Holofernes

Date

c.1598–1599

Description

Creator of the image: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
Date of the image creation: c.1598–1599
Medium of the image: Oil on canvas
Person depicted: Judith

The story of Judith beheading Holofernes is taken from the Deutero-canonical Book of Judith, included in some versions of the Bible. It tells the tale of how the widow Judith charmed and the murdered the Assyrian general Holofernes in order to save her people. After getting Holofernes drunk, Judith seizes his sword and, in the biblical words, ‘Approaching to his bed, she took hold of the hair of his head, and said, “Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day!” And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him’ (Judith, 13:7–8). This scene has been a favourite of classical artists of the period, with many existing interpretations. Carravagio’s depiction can be compared, for example, with Artemisia Gentileschi’s, with the latter having a far more active female protagonist. The painting is in the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica.

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