1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Judith with the head of Holofernes is a 1550 by Giulio Bonasone, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows a woman in a long robe kneeling, holding a severed head on a platter. Behind her, a soldier slumps against a wall, his body twisted in pain. To the right, a small figure watches from the shadows, while a rocky landscape and a few plants fill the background. The scene is dark and dramatic, with heavy lines and deep shadows. The woman’s calm pose contrasts with the soldier’s suffering, making the moment feel tense. The print’s rough, etched lines give it a raw, almost sketchy look, like a story told quickly. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this bold use of light and shadow works.
Giulio Bonasone’s 1550 print on paper depicts Judith exiting a tent while carrying Holofernes’ severed head, based on a design by Michelangelo. The engraving shows Judith accompanied by her maidservant as they leave the scene of the act.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Giulio Bonasone (c. 1498 – after 1574) (or Giulio de Antonio Buonasone or Julio Bonoso) was an Italian painter and engraver born in Bologna. He possibly studied painting under Lorenzo Sabbatini, and painted a Purgatory…
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