Gentileschi Analysis Genially 2

Despite the presence of the maid (who I will talk about in a separate point), the room shown in the painting is empty save for Judith and Holopherenes, which is accurate to the text. Judith specifically waits for a time when the slaves and attendants to Holopherenes will have left before she begins to commit the murder.

The lack of other people in the tent

"When evening came, his slaves quickly withdrew, and Bago′as closed the tent from outside and shut out the attendants from his master’s presence;" (Judith 13)

Mentioned several times in the bible story are the many ways that Judith dresses herself up in order to be more enticing to Holoferenes. One of these ways are her fineries--her beautiful clothing and the lovely gold jewelry which, as mentioned in a separate point, she must have inherited from her late husband. Judith's bracelet here is strikingly beautiful, and draws attention to her hand holding his hair as she beheads him.

Judith's Bracelet

"she got up and arrayed herself in all her woman’s finery," (Judith 12)

This phrase from the source text explains Holophrenes's laid out and vulnerable position, as well as his disarmedness in the presence of Judith. Paired with his nakedness, it seems like Gentileschi is making a statement about female self-defense--in the Bible, a line mentions how Holopherenes was happy to see her because he had been waiting for a chance to "deceive her"--a.k.a. rape or take advantage of her. In this depiction, this story becomes even more of a story of female power in the face of man's brutality.

Holophrenes on the Bed

"So Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holofer′nes stretched out on his bed, for he was overcome with wine." (Judith 13)

The main focal point of the painting and the story is the actual beheading of Holopherenes. The story states that she takes down his sword from above his bed and grabs his hair as she begins the act of beheading. This painting is frozen in the middle of this act, showing the grusome and bloody reality of this tale. I would say that this is accurate to the source text, in all its gory truth.

The act of Beheading

"[she] took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed and took hold of the hair of his head...And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed his head from his body." (Judith 13)

Appearance of Judith

"She was beautiful in appearance, and had a very lovely face; and her husband Manas′seh had left her gold and silver..." (Judith 8)

Judith is described in the bible as having a lovely face, which here might be twisted with effort.

This is the only element of this painting that I feel really deviates from the source text; while in the bible, the maid is waiting outside for Judith, in the painting she is standing above him assisting Judith with the task. It creates a powerful image of female power, and I believe this was a very intentional choice by Gentileschi. Aside from her tribute to Caravaggio's painting of the same subject matter, the two women overpowering Holopherenes create a brutal and evocative image of female domination and violence against their oppressors.

The Maid

"Now Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait for her to come out, as she did every day..." (Judith 13)

Judith is said to have a very lovely appearance, which may be a little twisted here. She is a widow, and therefore likely a little older, which seems to be accurately represented here. She is said to have made herself very beautiful in order to be alluring to Holoferenes and his men, from makeup on her face to the way she has done up her hair, to even the jewelry she chooses to adorn herself with.

The appearance of Judith

"She was beautiful in appearance, and had a very lovely face; and her husband Manas′seh had left her gold and silver..." (Judith 8)

I believe that Gentileschi's adherence to the source bible story as well as her deviations from it both serve to advance a story of female power and empowerment. Gentileschi, as a female artist in a very male-dominated field, probably wanted to depict a story of female resilience and agency--but she didn't have to look very far from the bible to find it. The story of Judith and Holopherenes is already a beautiful tale of women using patriarchial pressures to their advantage, which Gentileschi illustrates beautifully. The inclusion of the maid, while a deviation, can be inferred as a visual support of the story itself; literally two women standing over a man as he is beheaded. The focus on the act itself creates a striking and captivating image that is difficult to ignore. I've seen this painting in person and couldn't look away for quite a while. The power in this image seeps through to the viewer and stands out from other Renaissance paintings because of its subject matter and the unique way the women in this painting are depicted.

Summary

For my source text for this assignment, I chose to use the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition of the Bible on Biblegateway.com. I pulled from Judith 8 to Judith 13 for my analysis of this scene and painting.

Link to source text used

Source text