Artwork
Judith with the Head of Holophernes

Judith with the Head of Holophernes is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Nicolas Régnier. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the biblical scene of Judith beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes, a moment symbolizing divine justice and female courage.
The painting portrays the biblical scene of Judith beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes, a moment symbolizing divine justice and female courage. The work emphasizes themes of virtue overcoming tyranny through the protagonist's decisive action. Holofernes' exposed head and Judith's poised stance convey tension and moral triumph.
The sword held by Judith underscores her role as an agent of divine retribution. Executed in oil on canvas, the composition reflects Counter-Reformation ideals of piety and heroic resistance. The artwork is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it remains part of the permanent collection.
The subject draws directly from the deuterocanonical story of Judith and Holofernes, a popular theme in Baroque religious art.
Technique & Style
Nicolas Régnier's Judith with the Head of Holophernes, executed in 1601, is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 134 cm in height and 96 cm in width. As a religious painting, the artist employed oil paint to depict the biblical narrative, with the sword serving as a key visual element within the composition.
History & Provenance
The work titled Judith with the Head of Holofernes was painted by Nicolas Régnier in 1601 as an oil on canvas. It entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. The painting’s dimensions are 134 cm by 96 cm, and its subject depicts the biblical scene of Judith and Holofernes. Creation occurred in the early 17th century, reflecting the religious art genre.
The provenance indicates a direct entry into the Museo del Prado collection, with no recorded earlier owners before acquisition.
Nicolas Régnier painted Judith with the Head of Holofernes in 1601, an oil on canvas work measuring 134 cm by 96 cm. The painting is part of the permanent collection of the Museo del Prado and is catalogued under inventory number P00968. It has been exhibited in the museum's Spanish Paintings galleries as part of displays on Baroque religious art and has featured in special exhibitions focusing on 17th-century interpretations of the Judith and Holofernes narrative.
Overview
Judith with the Head of Holophernes is a 1601 oil painting by Nicolas Régnier, a Flemish artist who worked in Italy. The work is now held in the Museo del Prado.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas Régnier (1591–1667), known in Italy as Niccolò Renieri, was a painter, art dealer and art collector from the County of Hainaut, a French-speaking part of the Spanish Netherlands.


















