JUDITH AND HOLOFERNES

A story from theApocryphathat relates how Judith saved the Israelites from the Babylonians, who had cut off their water supply. Judith entered the Babylonian camp and agreed to dine with Holofernes, their commander. She gave him so much to drink that he fell into a stupor. Then she grabbed his sword and beheaded him. In the morning, the Babylonians, confused by the event, were defeated by the Israelites. In art, the image of Judith and Holofernes became a symbol ofvirtueovercoming vice.Andrea Mantegnadepicted Judith placing the head of Holofernes in a bag held by her servant Abra, while the beheaded corpse lies on a bed behind them (c. 1495; Washington, National Gallery).Donatello(1459;Florence, Palazzo Vecchio),Caravaggio(c. 1598;Rome, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica), andArtemisia Gentileschi(1612-1613; Naples, Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte) chose to portray the moment when Judith cuts off Holofernes' head.