Why it matters
Judith and her maidservant Abra pin down the Assyrian general and saw through his neck, lit by strong chiaroscuro against the darkness. Considered one of Artemisia Gentileschi's iconic works, it is often seen in the context of her achievement in portraying strong women.
Did you know?
- It was painted in 1612–1613.
- She painted a second version, now in the Uffizi, between 1613 and 1621.
- Early feminist critics read it as visual revenge after her rape by Agostino Tassi in 1611.
Based on the Wikipedia article Judith Slaying Holofernes (Artemisia Gentileschi, Naples) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
