Where can I see Judith with the Head of Holophernes?

Judith with the Head of Holophernes is held by Alte Pinakothek.

What movement is Judith with the Head of Holophernes?

Judith with the Head of Holophernes is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

Judith with the Head of Holophernes

Judith with the Head of Holophernes is an oil painting. It dates from 1538 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek. The work portrays the biblical heroine Judith, standing with a sword in her right hand while a severed head rests on a platter before her.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the moment Judith holds the severed head of the Assyrian general Holofernes, accompanied by a sword used in the act.

The painting depicts the biblical narrative of Judith and Holofernes, a story central to religious art. The composition focuses on the moment Judith holds the severed head of the Assyrian general Holofernes, accompanied by a sword used in the act. This scene illustrates the heroine's triumph over tyranny through her decisive action.

As a work of religious genre, the subject serves as a moral allegory, representing the victory of virtue and faith over evil and oppression. The inclusion of the beheaded head and the weapon emphasizes the physical reality of the beheading while underscoring the dramatic and symbolic weight of the event.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil paint on an oak panel, a format typical of early sixteenth‑century religious paintings. The composition presents Judith holding the severed head of Holofernes, rendered with precise modeling of flesh and drapery that emphasizes chiaroscuro and a heightened sense of narrative drama. The figures are arranged in a tight, pyramidal grouping that draws attention to the decisive moment of beheading, while the background remains subdued to focus on the violent act.

The handling of light accentuates the texture of the fabric and the glossy sheen of the blood, creating a vivid contrast that underscores the painting’s emotional intensity.

History & Provenance

The work was created in 1538 by Ambrosius Benson, as recorded in the canonical date from the source. It is an oil painting executed on oak panel, measuring 88.7 cm by 69.5 cm, and depicts Judith with the severed head of Holofernes. The composition shows Judith holding a sword while standing beside the decapitated general, a scene drawn from the deuterocanonical Book of Judith.

The Alte Pinakothek in Munich has held the painting since its acquisition by the Bavarian State Painting Collections, making it part of their permanent collection. The work remains on display in the museum’s gallery dedicated to Northern Renaissance art.

Judith with the Head of Holofernes is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its inventory number is 2661. The work was displayed in the exhibition "Bavarian Masterpieces from the Alte Pinakothek" at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in 1995. It also featured in "European Paintings: 14th–18th Century" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2007.

Overview

The work portrays the biblical heroine Judith, standing with a sword in her right hand while a severed head rests on a platter before her. She wears a crown and an ornate necklace, and her left hand rests on the fallen man's forehead. The composition is set against a dark backdrop that hints at a distant cityscape, emphasizing the central figures.

Context

The depiction aligns with the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on moral exemplars, where Judith served as a symbol of righteous resistance against oppression. The dark urban background may allude to the besieged city of Bethulia, reinforcing the narrative’s setting within a threatened community.