Judith Beheading Holofernes

This week’s art piece of the week is “Judith beheading Holofernes” by Artemisia Gentileschi.

The daughter of painter Orazio Gentileschi, Artemisia began painting at the age of fifteen. Born in Rome, Artemisia would go on to paint for the aristocracies of Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and London. She was the first woman to become a member of the Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence, pushing through the boundaries of the male dominated professional artist world. Of her 54 pieces, 49 feature women as main subjects.

“Judith beheading Holofernes” was painted by Artemisia when she was seventeen years old. At the time, Artemisia was involved in a long and public trial to convict the painter Agostini Tassi, who had raped her while they were working together to decorate the vaults of a palace in Rome. The painting served as a way for Artemisia to channel her trauma and sentiments towards Tassi, and also provide an image of the “Power of Woman” through Judith.

It is based on the biblical story of Judith, who assassinated the Assyrian general Holofernes by enticing him to get drunk and then beheading him in his sleep with his own sword, saving her city from the siege of the Assyrian army.

From the painting, you can perceive a strength and decisiveness in Judith, who’s sleeves are rolled up, and the triangle of material between the head and the body of the maidservant shows that she is using her leg to pin him down. The focus of the two women contrasts with the look of horror on Holofernes’ face, who faces the audience as he realises he is about to die, and grasps desperately at the handmaid’s face.

Source: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/artemisia/judith-beheading-holofernes