Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Title

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

[Burrell Collection, revised 2015]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Burrell collection, revised 2015]

This painting bears a serpent 'trademark', and is dated 1530. It is attributed to the German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553), who used this trademark as a mark of authenticity on work originating in his workshop. The painting is executed in oil on wood panel, and depicts the Jewish

This painting bears a serpent 'trademark', and is dated 1530. It is attributed to the German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553), who used this trademark as a mark of authenticity on work originating in his workshop. The painting is executed in oil on wood panel, and depicts the Jewish heroine, Judith, whose story is told in the Apocrypha section of the Bible. Judith, a grieving widow, put on her best clothes and seduced Holofernes, the officer commanding troops who were violently threatening her fellow citizens. Once Holofernes had succumbed to her advances, she beheaded him with a sword. Judith is depicted here, in all her finery, displaying Holofernes's head in triumph.

This is a very fine painting, with exquisite detail, particularly in the background landscape and Judith's elaborate costume, both of which relate to the German location and time when the work was made. Many paintings of female figures, in formats similar to this work, originated from Cranach's family workshop whilst it was in operation, but this is a particularly impressive example.

[http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/collections-research/online-collections navigator/Pages/home.aspx] (accessed 22.05.2013)

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Burrell Collection, revised 2015]

Production date
1530

Production date

1530

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 76.7 x 55.8 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 76.7 x 55.8 cm

  • Dimensions includung frame: 90 x 78.5 x 6.5 cm

  • [Burrell Collection, revised 2015]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia: winged serpent and dated '1530'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia: winged serpent and dated '1530'

  • [Burrell collection, revised 2015]

Owner
Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, Glasgow
Repository
Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, Glasgow
Location
Glasgow
CDA ID
UK_BC_35-671
FR (1978) Nr.
FR230D
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/UK_BC_35-671/

Provenance

  • Collection Rudolf Chillingworth sale
  • Galeries Fischer, Lucerne, 1922 (5th September 1922, No. 44)
  • Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway
  • thence by descent
  • Christie's, 1994
  • purchased 1995
    [Burrell collection, revised 2015]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 230D
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
  • Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 1530

Images

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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Judith with the Head of Holofernes', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/UK_BC_35-671/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Judith with the Head of Holofernes', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/UK_BC_35-671/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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