*Sacred Scripture* Judith and Holofernes – Caravaggio
April 15
Judith slits the head of Holofernes with a sword, in this artwork by Caravaggio.
Judith Beheads Holofernes.
Jdt 13:1-10
1When it grew late, his servants quickly withdrew. Bagoas closed the tent from the outside and dismissed the attendants from their master’s presence. They went off to their beds, for they were all tired because the banquet had lasted so long.
2Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes, who lay sprawled on his bed, for he was drunk with wine.
3Judith had ordered her maidservant to stand outside the bedchamber and to wait, as on the other days, for her to come out; she had said she would be going out for her prayer. She had also said this same thing to Bagoas.
4When all had departed, and no one, small or great, was left in the bedchamber, Judith stood by Holofernes’ bed and prayed silently, “O Lord, God of all might, in this hour look graciously on the work of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
5Now is the time for aiding your heritage and for carrying out my design to shatter the enemies who have risen against us.”a
6She went to the bedpost near the head of Holofernes, and taking his sword from it,
7she drew close to the bed, grasped the hair of his head, and said, “Strengthen me this day, Lord, God of Israel!”
8Then with all her might she struck his neck twice and cut off his head.b
9She rolled his body off the bed and took the canopy from its posts. Soon afterward, she came out and handed over the head of Holofernes to her maid,
10who put it into her food bag. Then the two went out together for prayer as they were accustomed to do.
https://davidcycleback.com/2016/08/18/caravaggios-judith-beheading-holofernes/
Judith’s Hymn of Deliverance
Jdt 16:1-2
1And Judith sang:
“Strike up a song to my God with tambourines,a
sing to the Lord with cymbals;
Improvise for him a new song,
exalt and acclaim his name.
2For the Lord is a God who crushes wars;b
he sets his encampment among his people;
he delivered me from the hands of my pursuers.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/judith/16?13=#18016013
Ps:33
1Rejoice, you righteous, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.a
2Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise.b
3Sing to him a new song;
skillfully play with joyful chant.
4For the LORD’s word is upright;
all his works are trustworthy.
5He loves justice and right.
The earth is full of the mercy of the LORD.c
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33
Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599 by Caravaggio
Judith is by definition the center of the story and scene. She is the first name in the title and the protagonist of the Biblical story, something the audience of the time and was well aware of. In the painting, she is shown as the central figure in that she is most brightly lit, the only one entirely (laterally) in the scene, raised above the others and she is the one holding the weapon and performing the deed. However, Caravaggio does include the others as key characters, which was often not the case for this subject. In many earlier and later paintings of the scene, Judith was nearly the entire focus, with the severed a minor ornament or afterthought. In some depictions you have to look hard to find the severed head. Caravaggio has all three as integral actors of the action scene. It is not a posed shot, but a snapshot of ongoing action.
People today value this painting for many reasons. As with the original audiences, we enjoy it as an as immediate and visceral telling of a famous Biblical story. It is fascinating to compare it to other depictions of the event, before and and after. There are many takes on this story, showing many different views of Judith. It is valued as a landmark in art, a departure from the Renaissance and the beginning of the Baroque period. It is valued as a great influence on later art, including today’s. The work is imitated, often satirically, today. You see the tenebrism and the spotlight effect in many of today’s movies and photography.
https://www.caravaggio.org/judith-beheading-holofernes.jsp
But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
Ps 31:14–16