Judith Beheading Holofernes: Analyzing Artemesia Gentileschi and Caravaggio
Artemisa Gentileschi Judith Beheading Holofernes (1611-12) Caravaggio Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598-99) Judith Beheading Holofernes Analyzing Artemesia Gentileschi and Caravaggio There is something about a justified and violent revenge, where you don’t feel guilty by thinking, “Well, he deserved it.” A well-traversed revenge subject of Biblical origin from the Old Testament is the story of Judith killing Holofernes, a Babylonian general who almost took the ancient city of Bethulia until the widow Judith seduced him, got him drunk, and then cut off his head. Thus, providing victory for the Hebrews. It is a violent act depicted in many paintings by artists in the 16 th and 17 th centuries. Two such artists are Caravaggio and Artemesia Gentileschi. Caravaggio has a history with the Gentileschi family, being that Artemisia and her father, Orazio, were both followers of Caravaggio. Orazio Gentileschi w...