Judith Slaying Holofernes: A Look into Baroque Paintings
Judith Slaying Holofernes, Artemisia Gentileschi (1620) Many people are familiar with Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes , but not many know about Artemisia Gentileschi’s version of the story, Judith Slaying Holofernes . The tale goes like this: a young widow, Judith, from the Jewish city of Bethulia, wished to save her people from Nebuchadnezzar’s army (Beheading Holofernes, Uffizi). She was invited into their camp under the pretense that she would give them information to ensure their victory. Holofernes, a general of the army, was captivated by Judith’s beauty and invited her to dine with him. After a few too many glasses of wine, Holofernes fell asleep on his bed, where Judith, with the help of her maid, Abra, cut off his head (Camara). Why is this piece of art important? Judith Slaying Holofernes was painted in a time when few women painters were recognized, let alone apprenticed. Gentileschi’s version of the story is much more brutal and human than Caravaggio’s. Her atten