DISCOVERART

Girolamo Mocetto

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

n.d.
Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
32.4 × 21.8 cm (12.8 × 8.6 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

This engraving illustrates a scene from the Apocryphal book of Judith. Judith, angered that her country was under foreign rule, decided to kill the enemy leader, Holofernes. She visited him and drank wine with him until he fell asleep; then, taking his sword, she “struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed his head from his body.” Girolamo Mocetto depicted Judith immediately after this act, handing Holofernes’s severed head to her maid.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Girolamo Mocetto

The Calumny of ApellesThe Calumny of ApellesThe Virgin and Child enthroned surrounded by saints and angelsThe Virgin and Child enthroned surrounded by saints and angeThe metamorphosis of Amymone who lies at center leaning on her arm, surrounded by Apollo at left, Neptune at right and two satyrsThe metamorphosis of Amymone who lies at center leaning on hSaint John the BaptistSaint John the BaptistThe Calumny of ApellesThe Calumny of ApellesJudith with the head of HolofernesJudith with the head of HolofernesFrieze with Tritons and NymphsFrieze with Tritons and NymphsFrieze with Neptune and TritonsFrieze with Neptune and Tritons

More like this

Judith and her maidservant with the head of HolofernesGirolamo Mocetto|Andrea Mantegna — Judith and her maidservanJudith with the Head of HolofernesGiovanni Antonio da Brescia — Judith with the Head of HolofeThe Child Presented to PriapusAgostino Veneziano (Agostino dei Musi) — The Child PresentedThe Rich Old WomanAgostino Veneziano (Italian, 1490–1540) — The Rich Old WomanThe Beheading of St. John the BaptistMaster MZ — The Beheading of St. John the BaptistCoat of Arms with a SkullJan Wierix — Coat of Arms with a SkullJudith with the Head of HolofernesBalthazar van den Bos — Judith with the Head of HolofernesJudith with the Head of HolofernesChristoffel van Sichem, I — Judith with the Head of HolofernJudith with the head of Holofernes in her left hand and a sword in her right hand, accompanied by a female attendant, from a series of four Old Testament subjectsOliviero Gatti|Giovanni Antonio da Pordenone (Giovanni AntonCoat of Arms with a SkullAlbrecht Dürer — Coat of Arms with a SkullThe descent from the crossBartolomeo da Brescia — The descent from the crossJudith with the Head of HolofernesClaes Jansz. Visscher — Judith with the Head of Holofernes