Hans Sebald Beham (1500-1550)

Judith with the head of Holofernes and her servant

Old Master engraving, 1530 

[with the initials monogram in the plate upper left]

Very fine lifetime impression of the only state

Former collection Richard Jung (Lugt 3791)

References: Pauli 12a, Hollstein III.10.12

Judith walking to the left with the head of Holofernes in her right hand and a sword in her left hand, her servant standing behind the head to left

This popular tale from the Old Testament starts with Holofernes, an Assyrian general who about to destroy Judith's home, the city of Bethulia. Judith, a beautiful widow, takes advantage of Holofernes’ lust for her and gains access to his tent. She gets him drunk and when he passes out, grabs his sword and decapitates him. She flees with her maidservant with Holofernes’ head in a basket. Beham’s interpretation is particularly unique in that he depicts her nude, striding forward with the sword in hand. This posture places her firmly in the category of “heroic nude,” usually an arena reserved for males.