Judith with the Head of Holofernes
| Artist | School of Fontainebleau (French, ca. 1530–ca. 1610) |
|---|---|
| Attributed To | Martin Freminet |
| Attributed To | Cornelis Massys |
| Title | Judith with the Head of Holofernes |
| Date | 16th century |
| Medium | Oil on panel |
| Dimensions | Framed: 49 1/4 × 37 3/4 × 3 3/4 in. (125.1 × 95.9 × 9.5 cm) Image: 39 x 27 1/4 in. (99.1 x 69.2 cm) |
| Credit Line | Thomas T. Solley Memorial, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 76.14.1 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
A young woman looks directly at us as she lifts the decapitated head of Holofernes by the hair and points to his face. An older woman to her left holds open a sack under the head. The older woman looks away from us.
Influenced by the humanist and artistic ideas emanating from Renaissance Italy, François I, king of France from 1515 to 1547, became a great patron of the arts. He invited many Italian artists to France, including Rosso Fiorentino and Francesco Primaticcio. These artists’ Mannerist style proved highly influential in France and became associated in particular with the château of Fontainebleau, François’s primary residence.
The Eskenazi Museum of Art’s painting bears the hallmarks of the French Mannerist style with its bright palette and elongated figures. Although ostensibly depicting the biblical heroine Judith holding the decapitated head of the Assyrian general Holofernes, Judith’s direct gaze at the viewer and her sumptuous jewelry indicate that this may be a portrait of a noblewoman. Thomas Jefferson Bryan, an American collector who acquired this painting in France prior to 1853, believed the painting depicted Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of François’s successor, Henry II. Although Bryan’s identification cannot be confirmed, it is known that Diane, who was famed for her beauty, was portrayed by several artists. On the other hand, recent technical analysis has revealed the painting’s underdrawing, which depicts a less conventionally attractive woman. Perhaps as the artist worked on the painting, he adjusted her features to conform to ideal standards of beauty.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Judith with the Head of Holofernes | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=76.14.1