Judith placing the head of Holofernes on a tray held by an attendant, with the body of Holofernes on a canopied bed
ca. 1621–35
Medium
Engraving; second state
Dimensions
sheet: 3 15/16 x 2 11/16 in. (10 x 6.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.184
Tags
Art Historical Context
This captivating engraving by Jacques Callot captures a dramatic moment from the biblical story of Judith, who saves her people by beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes. The scene shows Judith carefully placing the severed head on a tray held by her attendant, while Holofernes’s body lies on a canopied bed in the background. Created around 1621–35, the small print (just under four inches tall) distills a tale of courage, faith, and justice into a single, intimate composition. Callot’s mastery of engraving is evident in the fine lines and careful shading that bring depth to the figures and...
About the Artist
Jacques Callot · 1592–1635
Jacques Callot (1592–1635) was a French printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine, widely regarded as one of the first great artists to practice the graphic arts exclusively. His more than 1,400 etchings chronicled the breadth of 17th-century life, from Medici court festivities to the brutal realities of warfare. Callot revolutionized etching through technical innovations including the é...