Judith Beheading Holofernes
circa 1598-1610
Caravaggio brings the biblical story of Judith to life with terrifying, visceral realism in this Baroque masterpiece. You can almost hear the crunch of the sword slicing through Holofernes' neck as blood spurts onto the white sheets, a stark contrast to the deep red drapery behind them. The young heroine looks more disgusted than heroic, while her elderly maidservant eagerly waits to bag the head. Painted around 1599, this raw, unflinching scene reflects Caravaggio's own turbulent, violent life and his revolutionary use of dramatic lighting to heighten the gruesome action.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome
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