Analysis Of Judith Slaying Holofernes

The Baroque period was one of great confusion and change. I chose Artemesia Gentileschi to illustrate and exemplify the ideals of this time. She was the first woman to become famous in Western art of her time. She specialized in gruesome, dramatic paintings that masterfully employ Baroque techniques. This is one of her paintings from a series of paintings depicting the death of Assyrian General Holofernes entitled Judith Slaying Holofernes. Religious imagery was one of the main focuses of at the time, and the death of Holofernes was a popular topic to paint. Many other artists painted this scene, but none of them embodied the Baroque spirit as well. This a dramatic, gruesome painting where you can see the effort it is taking to cut his head off. The women can barely hold him down as blood spurts out onto them and the bed underneath. Gentileschi used the chiaroscuro (the dramatic contrast of dark and light) method to light the arms in diagonals, forcing your eyes to the carnage. The background is dark and full of swirling brushstrokes. Judith and her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes is considered Gentileschi’s masterpiece. This painting also uses chiaroscuro to throw strange, unnerving shadows across Judith. It is in tenebroso, which is a

This was most likely due to the fact that it was considered improper at the time for women to study the male body, so she was only able to study the female anatomy extensively. This painting is a self-portrait of Artemesia entitled Self-Portrait with Lute. Note the how naturalistic both the woman and the lute are. This still embodies the Baroque style with its dramatic contrast, realistic portrayal, and emotion. Even though this is a portrait, you can still get a feeling for the emotion. She seems angry or perhaps annoyed, whereas a Renaissance portrait wouldn’t give off any emotion other than a tranquil