Artwork
Judith with the Head of Holofernes
Judith with the Head of Holofernes is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Paolo Veronese. It is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Paolo Veronese’s oil painting titled Judith with the Head of Holofernes dates from the late 1570s, roughly between 1575 and 1580. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it is catalogued under inventory number GG 34.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays the biblical heroine Judith clutching the severed head of the Assyrian general Holofernes. Judith is shown in elaborate attire, a pearl necklace accentuating her status, while the disembodied head rests in her left hand, emphasizing the dramatic climax of the story.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, Veronese employs a rich palette of saturated colors and intricate detailing, especially in the fabrics and jewelry. The figure’s white, puffed sleeve and the dark, ornate bodice contrast with the deep, shadowy background, creating a theatrical chiaroscuro effect typical of late Renaissance Venetian painting.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria in 1659, becoming part of the Habsburg imperial holdings. It remained in the imperial collection and was transferred to the Kunsthistorisches Museum when the museum opened, where it continues to be displayed.
Context
Veronese’s treatment of the Judith narrative aligns with the period’s fascination with heroic female figures from biblical and classical sources. The work reflects the artist’s penchant for grand, narrative scenes populated by richly dressed figures, a hallmark of Venetian courtly taste in the late sixteenth century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paolo Caliari (1528 – 19 April 1588), known as Paolo Veronese ( VERR-ə-NAY-zay, -zee, US also -see; Italian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter based in Venice, known for extremely large history paintings of…
