Judith with the Head of Holofernes, (painting)

Object Details

artist

Titian (attributed to)

Appears in exhibition catalog as entry no. 56

No. 56. Judith With the Head of Holofernes. Supposed by Titian. The inspiration of an heroic deed sits upon the countenance of this beautiful woman. The horror of her attendant, the ghastly head of her enemy, and the magnificence of the tent in which the scene transpires are depicted with equal fidelity to nature. . . . What distress, what fear reigned within the walls of the beseiged city, the very desperation of this deed attests. It was evidently some ray of celestial light, some voice of the Lord, which had roused this tender woman from slumber, and led her, without the protecting ramparts into the very center of a hostile camp. "Thou art the glory of Jerusalem; thou art the joy of Israel," exclaimed her delivered countrymen, when she presented her repulsive trophy, and the dawn revealed the confusion of the vanquished host. Such a woman is this ideal Judith of the painter. . . . A slight fulness or clumsiness in Judith's arm is perceptible, which is the very fault with which this master has been charged. The lapis lazuli of which her robe is composed, was, until recently used only by painters of wealth. . . . [Pp. 44-45; the words "Lapis lazuli" appear in Italics in the catalogue.]

A Catalogue of Paintings in the Gallery of John C. Henderson, Linden Lawn, Staten Island. New-York: W.C. Bryant & Co., Printers, 41 Nassau Street, corner Liberty. 1860.

1876

Control number

AECI 05810042

Type

Paintings

Exhibition Catalogs

Pre-1877 Art Exhibition Catalogue Index

Topic

Religion--Old Testament--Judith

Literature--Bible

State of Being--Death--Execution

Occupation--Service--Servant

Religion--Old Testament--Holofernes

Architecture interior--Domestic--Tent

Figure group

Record ID

siris_aeci_106405

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply