Judith with the head of Holofernes thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Judith with the head of Holofernes

Statuette
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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJudith 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 createdNovember 23, 2000
Record URL
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