Judith with her sword raised in her right hand and placing the head of Holofernes in the sack with her left

Art Historical Context

In this dynamic etching from around 154–45, Venetian artist Andrea Schone (Andrea Meldola) captures pivotal moment from the biblical of Judith. The Jewish heroine Judith is shown triumphantly raising her sword in her right hand while placing the severed head of the Assyrian general Holofer into a sack with her left. This dramatic scene celebrates Judith's courage and cunning, as she seduced and beheaded Holofernes save her besieged city of Bethulia—a popular subject in Renaissance art symbolizing virtue triumphing over tyranny. Schiavone, a key figure in the Venetian Renaissance with Mannerist influences from artists like Parmigianino, excels in the etching medium here. Etching, a relatively new technique involving acid biting into a metal plate, allowed for fluid lines and expressive freedom beyond traditional engraving. The small sheet (6 5/16 x 3 9/16 in.) showcases his mastery of light, shadow, and movement, making the print both intimate and intense. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1926, this work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department highlights the era's fascination with heroic women and innovative printmaking, inviting viewers to ponder themes of empowerment and divine justice.

About the Artist

Andrea Schiavone (Andrea Meldola) · 1510–1563

Andrea Schiavone, born Andrea Meldolla around 1510 or 1515 in Zara (modern Zadar, Croatia), in Venetian-ruled Dalmatia, hailed from a family rooted in Meldola near Forlì in Romagna, Emilia-Romagna. His father, Simon Meldolla, served as a garrison commander there, and both parents originated from Meldola, where the family held property into the early 16th century. Nicknamed "Schiavone"—"the Slav"—a...