Who painted The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes?

The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes was painted by Paolo Veronese in 1568.

Where can I see The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes?

The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes is held by Ashmolean Museum.

What movement is The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes?

The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes

Paolo Veronese , 1568

The Flight of Achior from the Camp of Holofernes is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Paolo Veronese. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.

About this work

Overview

Set against a wooded backdrop that opens to a distant landscape, the work measures a substantial size typical of Veronese’s large‑scale history pieces.

Created circa 1568, this oil painting by Paolo Veronese depicts a tumultuous moment drawn from the biblical narrative of Judith. The composition centers on a group of soldiers in ancient dress, one of whom is being seized and led away amid a chaotic melee. Set against a wooded backdrop that opens to a distant landscape, the work measures a substantial size typical of Veronese’s large‑scale history pieces.

Subject & Meaning

The scene illustrates the escape of Achior, a former Amalekite who defects after witnessing the cruelty of Holofernes’s camp. By portraying the tension and urgency of his flight, the painting underscores themes of conscience, betrayal, and the moral complexities of war, reflecting the moralizing tone common in late‑Renaissance religious storytelling.

Technique & Style

Veronese employs a restrained palette of browns and muted greens, allowing the figures to emerge through careful modeling of light and shadow. The chiaroscuro effect creates a pronounced contrast that heightens the drama, while the elongated, stylized poses align the work with Mannerist aesthetics, emphasizing elegance over strict naturalism.

History & Provenance

The canvas entered the Ashmolean Museum’s collection in the early twentieth century, where it remains on view. Its acquisition followed a period of renewed scholarly interest in Veronese’s lesser‑known narrative works, situating the painting within the broader corpus of Venetian art that shaped the Late Renaissance.

Artist & collection

Artist

Paolo Veronese

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…