Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Title

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

[cda 2022]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Schloss Aschach, revised 2022]

In the biblical story Judith decapitates Holofernes, the army general who besieged her city, with his own sword. Here she is shown behind a marble ledge in a dark interior, holding this very sword, while gently resting her left hand on Holofernes' brow. The artist effectively contrasts the heroine's calm,

In the biblical story Judith decapitates Holofernes, the army general who besieged her city, with his own sword. Here she is shown behind a marble ledge in a dark interior, holding this very sword, while gently resting her left hand on Holofernes' brow. The artist effectively contrasts the heroine's calm, steadfast gaze with Holofernes' agonized features. He underscores the dramatic tension pervading the painting by the juxtaposition of the exposed, severed neck with Judith's exquisitely detailed dress and jewelry. The multiple slits in her sleeves and gloves emphasize the actions of cutting and slicing.

[cda 2022]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Schloss Aschach, revised 2022]

Production dates
about 1540
about 1525

Production dates

about 1540

[cda 2022]

about 1525

[Schloss Aschach, revised 2022]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 73 x 53 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 73 x 53 cm

  • [Schloss Aschach, revised 2022]

Signature / Dating

none

Owner
Museen Schloss Aschach
Repository
Museen Schloss Aschach
Location
Bad Bocklet
CDA ID
DE_MSA_2123
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MSA_2123/

Provenance

  • property of Friedrich, Count of Luxburg (1829-1905) and his wife Countess Luise (nee Prinzess of Schönaich-Carolath, 1847-1929)
  • Count Karl (1872-1956) of Luxburg and his wife Countess Carola (nee Martínez de Hoz, 1877-1968)
  • 1955 bequested together with the property to the disrict of Unterfranken
  • opened to the public as a museum in 1957
    [Schloss Aschach, revised 2022]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Freeden 1980 1587 Fig. p. 1587
AuthorMax H. von Freeden
TitleSchloß Aschach bei Bad Kissingen. 25 Jahre, ein fränkisches Sammler-Schloß als Museum
JournalWeltkunst: Zeitschrift für Kunst und Antiquitäten
Issue50
Year of Publication1980
Pages1584-1587
Show Literature
  • Judith with the Head of Holofernes, about 1540

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • irr
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Technical studies

2022Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

Occasional lines executed with a brush using a fluid black medium are visible in the infrared reflectogram. This also reveals a change made during the painting process to the position of Holofernes' right eye.

[cda 2022]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

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/DE_MSA_2123/ (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/DE_MSA_2123/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.