I will first employ the method of iconography to explore the figure of Judith in the art historical tradition, and how the depictions of other artists compare to that of Artemisia Gentileschi.
The theme of Judith and Holofernes takes up a larger space in Gentileschi’s oeuvre than any other subjects. At least five autographed versions of the subject have been preserved, three of which are rightly appraised as amongst her finest works. The subject is taken from the Book of Judith, which 5 was composed anonymously towards the end of the second century B.C and was a vastly popular subject in all art forms and periods. It tells the story of a Jewish widow who volunteers to rescue her 6 helpless people when the Assyrian general Holofernes lays
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Over the course of the meal he begins to desire her sexually, but having consumed copious amounts of wine, he falls asleep. Judith order Abra to stand guard outside while she, alone in his bedchamber, severs his head with a scimitar. She returns to
Bethulia victorious with the head of her victim, and remains until her death. 7 The story is possibly an allegorical one in which Judith is the personification of Judaism itself, with the name “Bethulia” being a possible variation of the Hebrew Beth Aloa, “house of god”.
Like the story of David, it’s an example of a case in which Israel, historically defined as frail and weak against her foes, survives due to intelligence and faith rather than strength. Both David and
Judith took heroic action on behalf of their people, both their victories culminated in decapitations as 2 symbols of the triumph of virtue and godliness over vice and corruption. In her depiction of the 8 subject, Gentileschi doubtlessly drew inspiration from Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes
(Figure 2). His influence on her art is evident through her naturalism, shallow pictorial space, dramatic use of light, and monumental compositions. The environment in his Judith is similarly
“David Slaying Goliath” by Peter Paul Rubens is an example of Renaissance art. This painting depicts a well-known Bible story of a young Israelite boy named David who kills the giant, Goliath, with a slingshot, and chops off his head with a sword. Rubens has chosen to illustrate this Bible story at the moment when David is about to hack off Goliath’s head with the giant’s sword. In addition, we see armor-clad soldiers rushing into battle in the background. In “David Slaying Goliath,” Peter Paul Rubens uses color, value, and line to illustrate the dynamism and energy within the painting that makes it look realistic. In addition, these elements contribute to the sense of excitement and anticipation of the event depicted.
The fact that Judith is a woman helps support the idea that if the Jews have God on their side, they can defeat their enemy the Assyrians even with a woman. Judith shares similarities with Deborah and Jael, by their actions to step in and save their people when men gave up. In contrast, they are different from their approach on ways of killing the General of their enemies, by either an army, summoning them to their tent, or going into their tent and killing them. Judith’s role as a woman and she sex, compares to Deborah and Jael and how their actions support the larger cultural values of patriarchy.
Judith Cutting Off the Head of Holofernes (Figure 1), ca. 1640,1 is consisting of a well-dressed female decapitating a middle-age man in his bed with the aid of an old woman. The elegantly dressed female using a sword to behead the man is named Judith. The male figure in the painting is
This essay aims to investigate two different time periods in the history of art. It will scrutinize the influence that the respective societal contexts had on the different artists, which in turn, caused them to arrange the formal elements in a specific way. I will be examining an Egyptian sculpture of the god Isis nursing Horus, her son, as well as the Vladimir Virgin icon, which dates from the Byzantine era. Experts vary on the precise ‘lifetime’ of the Ancient Egyptian civilization, but according to Mason (2007:10) it existed from 3100 BCE up to 30 BCE. The Byzantine era, which
1597-98). The heroic moment of Judith’s courage to as she beheads the general Holofernes is frozen onto the canvas. Instead of mathematical conventions, form is shown through dramatic tonal rendering, and contrast between the 3 figures and the darkness of the background. Similar to a photograph of a stage play. Caravaggio’s focus on the quality of the subject is the main story-telling factor. Holofernes’ mixed facial expression shows the remaining aspects of shock and panic as if there is still one final breath of life within him as his neck is being cut. However, the clear focus is on Judith herself who, standing relatively far away from the General whom she is beheading, has an unmistakably disgusted facial expression as if she wants to end the act with haste. The overall horrific atmosphere is amplified by the curtain behind the figures, it is the same colour as the blood that is shooting out from Holofernes’ neck, a visual representation to the violent act but also the Judith’s bravery and determination to save her hometown. The clear exaggeration of the blood, and theatrical style is typical of the Baroque visual
The purpose of this assignment is to present a brief yet comprehensive formal analysis of the work in question, namely, Joos van Cleve’s Lucretia. The painting was completed ca. 1525 by the Flemish artist most likely in Antwerp, where he was highly active from about 1511 until his death in 1540. The painting is oil on panel (75.9 x 60.6 cm) and is exemplary of the early Baroque period. The work depicts at the broadest level the suicide of the early Roman historical figure, Lucretia, following her rape c. 510 BC by Sextus Tarquinius, son of the last Roman king. The incident bears historical significance as it marks rising popular dissatisfaction of the Roman people with the monarchy, and the transition from the Roman Kingdom to the Roman Republic,
Judith began this conversation, proving that she was clearly jealous of Kit’s fortune and eagerly wants to see what Kit was brought from her wealthy home. This also proves that Kit was ready and eager to show off her wealth.
Artists striving for any appearance of propriety created extremely feminine, quiet and bland Judiths, perhaps to avoid the controversy Gentileschi wholeheartedly invited. Veronese's Judith7 (1570) is a perfect example of this. Her hair is immaculately braided and her skin a porcelain white rivaling the delicate pearls around her neck. She gazes into the distance as she daintily places the head of Holofernes in the bag her servant holds out for her. Simply put, Judith appears as dead as the head she holds. She is devoid of emotion, intelligence and humanity. Again, she is nothing but an allegory, a warning for proud and arrogant men.
In the year of 1571, Caravaggio was born in Italy. At age 11, Caravaggio was orphaned, luckily he was apprenticed with a painter in Milan. His work became popular when he moved to Rome. Caravaggio's work became popular for the “tenebrism technique he used, which used shadow to emphasize lighter areas” (“Caravaggio”). This painting tells a biblical story about Judith Beheading Holofernes. In the picture, Judith is the women in the middle that is about to behead Holofernes, the man lying on the bed. The reason why she is doing this because she is saving her people from Holofernes. The women on the far left is Judith’s maid waiting for her to behead Holofernes (Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599 by Caravaggio). Caravaggio used many elements
It seemed as if the court almost condoned his actions and felt little pity for Artemisia. Her paintings, at this point in her life, become drastically different. In about 1612, she paints the first of five works of Judith and Holoferness. The gory scene shows Holoferness, an Assyrian general being beheaded by Judith, a Jewish widow. The scene shows ample amount of blood, however, it does not feel like a room of murder. The killing of Holoferness by Judith is done in order to protect her homeland and life. Also, she prays to god in order to give her the strength to do the killing. Therefore, she felt it was justifiable. It is a rare message for the early 1600's in that it is the woman avenging a man. The powerful scene of It seems that Artemisia paints these works in order to avenge her own suffering from Tossi as well as the justice system. By depicting such a strong and powerful woman, Artemisia is, in a sense, creating a world which she believes in. In this world, women can speak up and women are heard. Women are just as capable of murder, leadership, and power as any man. Artemisia paints four more scenes of Judith and Holoferness all varying slightly. However, her overall theme and meaning of the work is consistent. Simply put, Judith is a woman to be looked at and respected for being a strong willed woman who stands up for what she
I had never heard of the artist Artemisia Gentileschi before this introductory Art course. Of all the paintings and sculptures found within the book, it was her work that stood out and spoke to me. "Judith and Maidservant with the head of Holofernes" is a particularly rich oil painting by the Italian Gentileschi, painted circa 1625 Europe. Her large canvas measures 72 and 1/2 inches by 55 and 3/4 inches and began as a biblical story telling inspiration come to life within the oil. Located at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the painting was a gift to the institute from Art collector Mr. Leslie H. Green in 1952. Artemisia was the daughter of a painter (and caravaggio influenced) Orazio Gentileschi, she was also the wife of little known artist
Nanette Salomon emphasizes that there are different ways to make sense of the changes in Artemisia’s three “Susannas”. One explanation may be that Artemisia’s work show progressive naturalism or realism which can be attributed to her development as an artist.
She did many paintings of Judith; “Judith and her
In the scope of this paper two works of art would be compared and contrasted - David’s Oath of the Horatii and Painting of Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride by Van Eyck.
The story behind this painting is a Biblical tale about a strong heroine named Judith, who was known for her bravery and resistance against the Assyrian troops that come to assume control over her people. In this story, Judith uses her wit and seduction to ease her way into the Assyrian troops' camp and continue with a genius plan to execute the Assyrian General, Holofernes. She seduces him, and once he is drunk, beheads him in his own tent, with his own soldiers all around him oblivious (Branch). Judith was able to defeat the enemy and resist what could have been the end of many Israelites' lives. Cranach's choice suggested a political resistance that required a bravery similar to that of Judith's. Small details in the painting such as the bodice of the dress and Judith's jewelry show Cranach's love for a decorative surface, as well as the