Lot 23
Anonymous North Italian painter JUDITH WITH A HEAD OF HOLOFERNES

17th century
Oil on canvas
106,5 x 85,5 cm (h x w)
Unsigned

Starting price
290 000 CZK
   |   11 154 €

The story of Judith is a symbolic reminder of God's existence and the protection of a true believer. The Old Testament, namely the book of Judith, describes King Nebuchadnezzar's attack on the Jewish fortified city of Betulia. The king sent Holofernes to conquer the city. Judith, who strongly believed that God would eventually save the city, left the city and was intentionally captured. She gained the trust of Holofernes by trickery, waited until he fell asleep completely drunk, and cut off his head. The iconography of this theme usually includes three characters - Judith, Holofernes and Judith's maid Abra on the right. Judith's proverbial beauty and femininity is underlined by an eloquent half-act, smooth alabaster skin accented by pearls and rich pleated sleeves. Although Judith was a widow and many suitors courted her, she never remarried.

More works from auction

COMMENTARIES ON ARISTOTLE

Lot 1 Johann Maier von Eck (1486 - 1543) COMMENTARIES ON ARISTOTLE

Starting price
38 000 CZK | 1 462 €
Sold
PILGRIMAGE OF THE SAINTS

Lot 2 Daniel Adam z Veleslavína (1546 - 1599) PILGRIMAGE OF THE SAINTS

Starting price
45 000 CZK | 1 731 €
Price realized
110 000 CZK | 4 231 €
DE MEDICA MATERIA WITH COMMENTARIES

Lot 3 Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1501 - 1577) DE MEDICA MATERIA WITH COMMENTARIES

Starting price
45 000 CZK | 1 731 €
Sold
GARDENER'S HANDBOOK

Lot 4 Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinye (1626 - 1688) GARDENER'S HANDBOOK

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 577 €
Price realized
19 000 CZK | 731 €
BRITISH ZOOLOGY

Lot 5 Thomas Pennant (1726 - 1798) BRITISH ZOOLOGY

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 577 €
Price realized
55 000 CZK | 2 115 €
OEUVRES COMPLETES. AVEC DE EXTRAITS DE DAUBENTON.

Lot 6 George Louis Leclerc de Buffon (1707 - 1788) OEUVRES COMPLETES. AVEC DE EXTRAITS DE DAUBENTON.

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 577 €
Price realized
60 000 CZK | 2 308 €
HERCULES AND THE HYDRA

Lot 7 Unknown author HERCULES AND THE HYDRA

Starting price
17 000 CZK | 654 €
Price realized
20 000 CZK | 769 €
IN HEPHAISTOS' WORKSHOP

Lot 8 Jacopo Palma il Giovanne (1548 - 1628) (attributed) IN HEPHAISTOS' WORKSHOP

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 577 €
TREE

Lot 9 Gillis van Conixloo I. (1544 - 1607) (attributed) TREE

Starting price
18 000 CZK | 692 €
Price realized
18 000 CZK | 692 €
PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN

Lot 10 Rafael Santi (1483 - 1520) (follower) PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 577 €
Price realized
26 000 CZK | 1 000 €
PUTTO

Lot 11 Bartholomeus Spranger (1546 - 1611) (attributed) PUTTO

Starting price
30 000 CZK | 1 154 €
FORTUNA

Lot 12 Hendrik Goltzius (1558 - 1617) (attributed) FORTUNA

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 962 €