Judith with the head of Holofernes
Statuette
ca. 1550 - ca. 1600 (made)
ca. 1550 - ca. 1600 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This group represents Judith, who is carrying the head of Holofernes together with another woman. It is Flemish made in ca. 1550-1600.
Judith, a rich and beautiful Jewish widow, was the heroine of the Jews planning and carrying out the assassination of the Assyrian general Holofernes who's army was besieging the Jewish city of Bethulia. She approached Holofernes pretending to be a traitor to her city. When he attempted to seduce her she decapitated him, and in the confusion the Assyrians fled. Her image is used to symbolise Humility, and Virtue overcoming Vice.
The scene here represents the triumph of Virtue over Vice.
Judith, a rich and beautiful Jewish widow, was the heroine of the Jews planning and carrying out the assassination of the Assyrian general Holofernes who's army was besieging the Jewish city of Bethulia. She approached Holofernes pretending to be a traitor to her city. When he attempted to seduce her she decapitated him, and in the confusion the Assyrians fled. Her image is used to symbolise Humility, and Virtue overcoming Vice.
The scene here represents the triumph of Virtue over Vice.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Judith with the head of Holofernes (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Boxwood |
Brief description | Statuette, boxwood, 'Judith with the head of Holofernes', Flemish, made about 1550-1600 |
Object history | From a redundant loan (ex Maclean Loan No. 1), written on. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This group represents Judith, who is carrying the head of Holofernes together with another woman. It is Flemish made in ca. 1550-1600. Judith, a rich and beautiful Jewish widow, was the heroine of the Jews planning and carrying out the assassination of the Assyrian general Holofernes who's army was besieging the Jewish city of Bethulia. She approached Holofernes pretending to be a traitor to her city. When he attempted to seduce her she decapitated him, and in the confusion the Assyrians fled. Her image is used to symbolise Humility, and Virtue overcoming Vice. The scene here represents the triumph of Virtue over Vice. |
Other number | Loan Maclean.1 - Previous loan number |
Collection | |
Accession number | A.39-2000 |
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Record created | November 23, 2000 |
Record URL |
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