Judith with the Head of Holofernes
around 1582 | Paolo Caliari, gen. Veronese
In the hands of Veronese even this gloomy scene gains in solemnity by – initially – focusing on stark colours to emphasise the heroine’s worldly beauty. Only on closer inspection do we catch sight of Holofernes’ dark head and the sack that is ready to contain it, held by the servant. It is exactly this contrast between light and dark, between beauty and terror, which gives the picture its Mannerist charm.
In the hands of Veronese even this gloomy scene gains in solemnity by – initially – focusing on stark colours to emphasise the heroine’s worldly beauty. Only on closer inspection do we catch sight of Holofernes’ dark head and the sack that is ready to contain it, held by the servant. It is exactly this contrast between light and dark, between beauty and terror, which gives the picture its Mannerist charm.
Artist:
Paolo Caliari, gen. Veronese (1528 Verona - 1588 Venedig) DNB
Time:
around 1582
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, Venetian
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
Overall: 111,5 cm × 99,8 cm
Framed: 129 cm × 118,5 cm × 6 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 34
Provenance
Coll. Leopold Wilhelm;documented before 1712 in the gallery