This week I decided to do a painting on an oil canvas by Caravaggio. The painting is called Judith Beheading Holofornes, and was completed in 1599. It is 145 by 195 cm and now is currently in the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica in Roma.
For this artwork, I will discuss the iconology, as well as a couple formal aspects. As said in the Bible, Judith, as a woman, symbolizes the power of the people of Israel by defeating the enemy by means of cunning and courage. This painting shows Judith beheading Holofernes after she goes into his tent and mesmerizes him with her beauty. They feast and drink lots of wine. After getting he drunk, she returns enters his room from the right, which contradicts the direction shown in the painting, while he was lying naked on a white sheet. She steals his sword and decapitates him.
Even though Judith is extremely elegant and beautiful, Caravaggio showed the fierceness of the scene with Holofernes’ inhuman scream and body spasm. This shows how Holofernes is dead, indicated by his upturned eyes, yet signs of life are portrayed by his screaming mouth, the toning of his muscles as he strains himself, and his hand still gripping the bed. Judith was originally shirtless, illustrating her bare breasts, but they were later covered by a semi-transparent blouse.
Nicole, good blog.
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