Lot 23

Anonymous North Italian painter JUDITH WITH A HEAD OF HOLOFERNES

The story of Judith is a symbolic reminder of God's existence and the protection of a true believer. The Old Testament, namely the book of Judith, describes King Nebuchadnezzar's attack on the Jewish fortified city of Betulia. The king sent Holofernes to conquer the city. Judith, who strongly believed that God would eventually save the city, left the city and was intentionally captured. She gained the trust of Holofernes by trickery, waited until he fell asleep completely drunk, and cut off his head. The iconography of this theme usually includes three characters - Judith, Holofernes and Judith's maid Abra on the right. Judith's proverbial beauty and femininity is underlined by an eloquent half-act, smooth alabaster skin accented by pearls and rich pleated sleeves. Although Judith was a widow and many suitors courted her, she never remarried.