Judith Slaying Holofernes

Artemisia Gentileschi was born in Rome and where she was taught painting through her father. While her style evolved from her father’s, they were both inspired by Caravaggio. Most of her work was focused on women and power. She was the first woman to be accepted into the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno. She had a very successful career as an artist and many notable commissioners of her work.

This painting shows a religious scene of the story of Judith and Holofernes. Holofernes was an Assyrian general that captured her city. Judith, intending to save her people from him, went to Holofernes with the pretense of bringing him information. When she entered Holofernes was in awe of her beauty and invited her to dine with him to later seduce her. While he was so enthralled by her beauty, he ended up drinking more wine than he realized. This left Judith with the opportunity she needed to behead him with a sword to free her people.

Judith Slaying Holofernes is a painting that comes from the Baroque period that started in 17th century Europe. While it started in Europe due to the spread of trade, colonization, Catholicism, and artists, the Baroque style spread to many parts of the world. The art from this period is associated with its striking realism and dramatics. Its art was often depictions of religious scenes due to the catholic church commissioning for them.

Caravaggio was a Baroque artist that inspired many others with his work including Artemisia Gentileschi who showed that she was a Caravaggisti through her work. Her use of dramatic lighting that shows only on the subjects and blacks out the background was inspired by the same technique Caravaggio would use in his works. Caravaggio established his reputation in the art world through his way of contemporarily depicting religious scenes with a unique impression and use of light.

Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1620–21, oil on canvas, 162.5 x 199 cm

Sources Esperanca, Camara. "Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes." SmartHistory, 19 July 2015, https://smarthistory.org/gentileschi-judith-slaying-holofernes/ Singer, Jams. "Masterpiece Story: Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi." DailyArt, 4 August, 2024, https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/painting-of-the-week-artemisia-gentileschi-judith-slaying-holofernes/ Du Plessis, Alicia. "Judith Slaying Holofernes” by Artemisia Gentileschi – An Analysis." Art in Context, 7 September, 2022, https://artincontext.org/judith-slaying-holofernes-by-artemisia-gentileschi/ Christiansen, Keith. "Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi) (1571–1610) and His Followers." The Met, 1 October, 2003, https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/caravaggio-michelangelo-merisi-1571-1610-and-his-followers