Judith with the head of Holofernes

Judith with the head of Holofernes

Title

Judith with the head of Holofernes

[Sammlung Rau für Unicef, revised 2017]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Sammlung Rau für Unicef, revised 2017]

The round painting (tondo) is fitted in a square frame and depicts Judith between two servants. With delicately splayed fingers she demonstratively holds up a sword in her right hand. Her left hand grasps Holofernes' head by the hair. Judith stares resolutely at the viewer. [...] While the

The round painting (tondo) is fitted in a square frame and depicts Judith between two servants. With delicately splayed fingers she demonstratively holds up a sword in her right hand. Her left hand grasps Holofernes' head by the hair. Judith stares resolutely at the viewer. [...] While the figures emerge from a dark background, if the subject is considered the painting in general radiates an idiosyncratic calm. No blood is visible on the sword and only suggested on the severed head. Furthermore the contemporary attire of the three ladies is refined, and hardly differs in cut (with a deep neckline) and the colour of the material. Tight bodices, neckbands, pearl jewellery and young faces with rosy cheeks add an erotic element.

[Wolfgang Breul, Exhib. Cat. Mainz 2015, No. 3.20]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Sammlung Rau für Unicef, revised 2017]

Production date
1525

Production date

1525

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 14.6 cm (diameter)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 14.6 cm (diameter)

  • Dimensions including frame: 37.8 x 37.7 x 7.5 cm

  • [Sammlung Rau für Unicef, revised 2017]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the right: winged serpent with elevated wings and dated '1525'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the right: winged serpent with elevated wings and dated '1525'

  • [Sammlung Rau für Unicef, revised 2017]

Owner
Sammlung Rau für UNICEF
Repository
Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck
Location
Remagen
CDA ID
DE_SRU_GR1-691
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SRU_GR1-691/

Provenance

  • n. d., England, Hawkins Collection
  • n. d., Calmann Collection
  • 1943 London, the collection of Baron Hatvany
  • 1.12.1978, purchased by G. Rau in London, Christie's auction, No. 82.

Exhibitions

Tokyo 1999
Miyazaki 2000
Matsue 2000
Yokohama 2000
Matsuyama 2000
Paris 2000/2001
Rotterdam 2001
Cologne 2001
Munich 2001/2002
Bergamo 2002
Bogota 2002
Portland 2004
Dayton 2004/2005
Nashville 2005/2006
Lisbon 2006
Remagen 2010
Remagen 2014/2015
Mainz 2015

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Mainz 2015 180-181 3.20
EditorGeneraldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz, Wolfgang Breul
TitleRitter! Tod! Teufel?: Franz von Sickingen und die Reformation, Landesmuseum Mainz
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Remagen 2014 91
EditorOliver Kornhoff
TitleLeibhaftig. Der menschliche Körper zwischen Lust und Schmerz
Place of PublicationRemagen
Year of Publication2014
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Remagen 2010 90 20 p. 91
EditorOliver Kornhoff
TitleDas Auge des Sammlers
Place of PublicationRemagen
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Lisbon 2006 82 29 p. 83
EditorLuísa Penalva, Anísio Franco
TitleGrandes Mestres da Pintura: de Fra Angelico a Bonnard. Coleccao Rau
Place of PublicationMilan
Year of Publication2006
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Cologne, Munich 2001
AuthorWallraf-Richartz-Museum
EditorMarc Restellini
TitleMeisterwerke von Fra Angelico bis Bonnard. Fünf Jahrhunderte Malerei. Die Sammlung des Dr. Rau
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2001
Show Literature
Auct. Cat. London 1979 30
EditorChristie's Fine Art Auction House, London
TitleChristie's Review of the Season 1979
Place of PublicationLondon
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 278-280, 775 143
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
  • Judith with the head of Holofernes, 1525

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse

Documents

Technical studies

2017Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Framing

Probably a new wooden frame, dimensions: 24 x 24 x 3 cm

Dimensions of the display case: 37.8 x 37.8 x 7.7 cm

[Sammlung Rau für Unicef, revised 2017]

Condition Reports

Date30.01.2009

see pdf-file

  • written by Restauratorinnen Partnerschaft Erhards & Seuffert, Köln

Conservation History

Date1979

William Drown, St James's Place, London: consolidation of flaking paint, cleaned, new varnish

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_SRU_GR1-691/ (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_SRU_GR1-691/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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