Gentileschi, Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes

Title: Gentileschi, Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes
Rights: Detroit Institute of Arts, Public Domain.
Creator: Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653)
Date: ca. 1623-25
Description: Two women are seen frozen in a moment of hesitation. The woman on the left wears a mustard yellow gown with puffy white sleeves, in her right hand she is holding a sword, her left hand risen almost as if she has overheard someone coming and is gesturing to her maidservant to stop. Her maidservant is dressed in rich purples and blues, a white wrap around her head, and looks up to her mistress' risen hand in anticipation. In the maidservant's hands we see the head of Holofernes himself, of which Judith has just killed with the sword in her hand. The entire scene is dramatized by the intense shadows.
Format: Painting. Oil on canvas. 72 7/16 × 55 3/4 inches (184 × 141.6 cm)
Publisher: Detroit Institute of Arts. 52.253
Contributor: Abigail P.
Subject: Biblical story; biblical scene; Judith; maidservant; Holofernes; Baroque; chiaroscuro; sword; weapon; decapitation.
Source: Jpeg file. Unknown photographer. Detroit Institute of Arts Digital Collection. https://www.dia.org/art/collection/object/judith-and-her-maidservant-head-holofernes-45746. 2/27/2020