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The Bible relates how Judith saved her people in a war with the Assyrians by seducing their general Holofernes and cutting off his head.
Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1530
© Burrell Collection
Details
- Category:
- Religious
- Medium:
- Oil on panel Dimensions: 76.7 x 55.8cm
- Art Fund grant:
- £50,000 ( Total: £314,663; Export stopped)
- Acquired in:
- 1995
- Vendor:
- Anonymous through Citibank N A Art Advisory Service
Cranach portrays Judith as a wise and self-assured woman, elegantly clad and holding the blood-stained sword in a restrained but triumphant manner. She wears contemporary dress; and the landscape visible in the distance contains buildings consistent with Cranach's own surroundings. This picture is treated like a portrait rather than a history painting.
Provenance
Collection Rudolf Chillingworth sale; Galeries Fischer, Lucerne, 1922; Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway; thence by descent; Christie's, 1994.
Venue details
Entry details
Free entry to all
Free exhibitions to all
Mon – Thu and Sat, 10am – 5pm
Fri, Sun, 11am – 5pm
Closed 25 – 26 Dec and 1 – 2 Jan
Closed from 12.30pm on 31 Dec