On two prestigious panels Cranach illustrates the story of the pious widow Judith, which is told in one of the Old Testament's apocryphal books (the book of Judith). After Holofernes - the assyrian field commander who served the tyrannical King Nebuchadnezzar - had pillaged and murdered throughout the Middle East
On two prestigious panels Cranach illustrates the story of the pious widow Judith, which is told in one of the Old Testament's apocryphal books (the book of Judith). After Holofernes - the assyrian field commander who served the tyrannical King Nebuchadnezzar - had pillaged and murdered throughout the Middle East he lay siege to the Judahite town of Bethulia. Judith decided to save her home town from the hopeless situation and went into the field commander's camp posing as a defector. Her beauty soon arroused the attention of Holofernes who then invited Judith to a banquet.
On the second painting Cranach depicts Judith - still holding the sword in her right hand - with her maid placing Holofernes' severed head in a sack. Oblivious to the tragic act performed in the tent the soldiers continue their bustling activity in the camp. Behind the row of covered wagons a council of war has gathered in a large circle, isolated skirmisches as well as a banquet taking place on numerous tables under an arbour are visible. A fortified town and a steep mountain with an imposing fortress are visible in the background at the left.
[Timo Trümper, in Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015, 272]
- Attribution
- Lucas Cranach the Elder
Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder | [Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 96] |
- Production date
- 1531
Production date
1531 | [dated] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 98 x 73.6 cm [Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 23]
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 98 x 73.6 cm [Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 23]
Dimensions including frame: 113 x 88.5 cm [Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, revised 1994]
- Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia bottom right on the drum: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '1531'; in yellow paint
Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia bottom right on the drum: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '1531'; in yellow paint
- Owner
- Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
- Repository
- Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
- Location
- Gotha
- CDA ID
- DE_SMG_SG675
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FR215
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMG_SG675/