Artwork
Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes
Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Ludovico Stern. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This scene embodies themes of courage, decisive action, and divine justice, often interpreted as a meditation on virtue triumphing over tyranny.
The painting portrays the biblical heroine Judith in the act of presenting the severed head of the Assyrian general Holofernes, a moment drawn from the deuterocanonical story of Judith and Holofernes. This scene embodies themes of courage, decisive action, and divine justice, often interpreted as a meditation on virtue triumphing over tyranny. The composition emphasizes Judith's resolve and the gruesome aftermath of violence, reinforcing her role as a symbol of righteous intervention.
The work is cataloged as religious art within the Alte Pinakothek's collection, reflecting its narrative and devotional significance.
The depiction aligns with common iconographic treatments of the Judith narrative, focusing on the immediate aftermath of beheading as a decisive act of faith and resistance.
Technique & Style
Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes is classified as a painting and belongs to the genre of religious art, depicting Judith, the head of Holofernes, and the beheaded head itself. The work is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek. Its modest dimensions, 22.2 cm in height and 17.1 cm in width, are recorded in the collection data.
Beyond its medium, small-scale format, and religious subject matter, no further details regarding technique, materials, support, handling, condition, or stylistic qualities are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The painting Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes was created by Ludovico Stern in 1750. Classified as a religious work, the piece depicts the biblical scene of Judith holding the severed head of Holofernes. It is currently held within the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, specifically located at the Alte Pinakothek.
The work measures 22.2 cm in height and 17.1 cm in width. No specific details regarding the original commission, the chain of ownership prior to its current location, or the precise circumstances of its creation are provided in the available records.
The painting Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes by Ludovico Stern is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is specifically located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Created in 1750, the work measures 22.2 cm in height and 17.1 cm in width. The available sources do not provide specific inventory numbers or details regarding its exhibition history.
Legacy
Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes by Ludovico Stern, painted in 1750, is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work depicts the biblical moment of Judith displaying the severed head of Holofernes and was created in the 18th century. It measures 22.2 cm in height and 17.1 cm in width.
The painting is recognized as a religious artwork within the broader corpus of European art and has been studied within discussions of Baroque and later interpretations of Judith narratives in art history.
Overview
Ludovico Stern, an Italian painter active in mid‑18th‑century Rome, produced a canvas titled Judith mit dem Haupt des Holofernes around 1750. The work portrays the biblical heroine Judith clutching the severed head of the Assyrian general Holofernes. It is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and exemplifies the decorative sensibilities of the Rococo period.
Context
Stern’s career was marked by commissions for religious and historical subjects, aligning with the Counter‑Reformation’s demand for didactic imagery. In the Rococo era, biblical scenes were often rendered with a lighter, more decorative touch, and this work illustrates that trend by merging dramatic narrative with the period’s characteristic elegance and refined coloration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ludovico Stern (October 5, 1709- December 25, 1777) was an Italian painter of the Rococo or late-Baroque period, active in Rome. He is known for both large sacred and history paintings, as well as still lives, and portraits.
