Who painted Judith and Holofernes?

Judith and Holofernes was painted by Hans von Aachen in 1584.

Where can I see Judith and Holofernes?

Judith and Holofernes is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Judith and Holofernes?

Judith and Holofernes is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Judith and Holofernes?

Museum-quality prints of Judith and Holofernes are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Judith and Holofernes

Hans von Aachen , 1584

Judith and Holofernes is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Hans von Aachen. It dates from 1584 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:in later hand, lower center in graphite: Coll. DD; in later hand, lower center in graphite: Paolo Farinati; in later hand, crossed over, lower right in graphite: Bartholom aeus; in later hand, cropped at margin, lower right in brown ink: Paul. Fa; in later hand, upper left in graphite : P.FARINATI; in later hand, center left in graphite: Z6[?]; in later hand, lower left in graphite: No6; in later hand, within square, lower right in graphite: TTZSS

About this work

Overview

Created in 1584, this drawing by Hans von Aachen presents the biblical episode in which Judith decapitates the Assyrian general Holofernes. Executed with pen and brown ink, enhanced by brown and gray washes on laid paper, the work captures a moment of violent climax rendered in the refined, mannered aesthetic typical of Northern Mannerism.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a reclining male figure, his body swathed in cloth, while three women attend him. One woman raises a sword poised for the fatal blow, another watches, and a third kneels beside the corpse, suggesting a narrative of triumph and moral vindication that was frequently employed to illustrate virtues such as courage and divine justice.

Technique & Style

Von Aachen employed a delicate pen line to define forms, then built atmospheric depth through layered brown and gray washes. The laid paper surface contributes a subtle texture, while the restrained palette emphasizes chiaroscuro modeling. The drawing’s elegant contours and exaggerated poses reflect the courtly sophistication of late‑Renaissance Mannerist drawing.

History & Provenance

A noted court artist, von Aachen produced works for patrons such as Emperor Rudolf II, and his drawings often circulated among aristocratic collections. This particular piece, dated to the mid‑1580s, remains documented within the artist’s oeuvre as an example of his skill in rendering complex biblical narratives for elite audiences.