Artemisia Gentileschi
"The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman," declares Judith, a young Jewish woman from Bethulia, as recounted in the Bible. She describes her daring act that liberated the Israelites from the siege by Nebuchadnezzar's forces. Judith ventured into the camp of Holofernes, the formidable Assyrian general, dressed in her finest and pretending to seek an alliance. Captivated by her beauty, Holofernes invited her to a grand feast in his tent. After the general succumbed to drunkenness and fell asleep, Judith seized the opportunity to use her scimitar and deliver the fatal blow.
In this striking painting Artemisia Gentileschi, born on this day in 1593, captures the moment Judith kills Holofernes. The painting is both powerful and chilling: Holofernes lies inebriated on his bed, his head clutched by his hair as the sword is driven into his neck, blood spurting so violently it stains Judith’s dress.
Completed in Rome after Artemisia's seven-year stint in Florence, the work echoes the naturalistic and forceful style reminiscent of Caravaggio, whom Artemisia admired. Despite its striking execution, the painting initially sparked controversy and was not displayed as planned; Artemisia struggled to receive payment for it, eventually securing it through the intervention of her friend Galileo Galilei after considerable delay, and shortly after Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici’s death in 1621.
Today, this masterpiece not only showcases a dramatic Biblical scene but also tells the personal and professional story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a woman who forged a path as an artist in a male-dominated era. Her remarkable journey took her through the courts of Rome, Florence, and Naples, to England, and ultimately led to her being the first woman admitted into the Academy of Art and Design in Florence.
P.S. As you can see, the story of this painting is very complex. If you'd like to forget for a moment about what you know about this masterpiece and focus on what you can see, you should check out our free How to Look at Art online course, where we analyze its composition.
P.P.S. Gentileschi's art was full of justified anger. But she wasn't the only artist who poured her emotions onto the canvas. Let's take a look at the female rage in art! For more stories on Artemisia Gentileschi's art (including one about this painting), see the articles below.