Judith with the Head of Holofernes  1640

The subject of the painting is the Biblical Jewish heroine Judith, who bravely went to the camp of the besieging Assyrians, plied the enemy general Holofernes with drink, and cut off his head. An emblem of virtue, she is accompanied by a servant, and displays her trophy, her head turned towards heaven. Stanzione’s work was influenced by that of Jusepe de Ribera, but he was...