Sculptuur van Judith en Holofernes door Donatello in de Loggia dei Lanzi te Florence c. 1875 - 1900

Carlo Brogi captured Donatello's bronze sculpture, Judith and Holofernes, in this albumen print. Donatello completed the sculpture in Florence around 1460. It portrays the biblical story of Judith, who bravely assassinated the tyrannical Holofernes to save her people from oppression. Placed in the Loggia dei Lanzi, a public space associated with civic power, the statue served as a political allegory. It symbolized the Florentine Republic's triumph over tyranny, a potent message in a city-state rife with factionalism and threats from external powers. The Medici family, who commissioned the work, strategically used it to promote their image as defenders of liberty, subtly associating their rule with the values of the Republic. By examining archival documents, contemporary chronicles, and art historical scholarship, we can better appreciate how this sculpture transcends its aesthetic qualities to function as a powerful statement within its unique social and institutional context.