Judit onthoofdt Holofernes 1697

This anonymous 1697 engraving, "Judit onthoofdt Holofernes," depicts the biblical story of Judith beheading Holofernes, a general of the Assyrian army, to save her people. The scene is set in a military camp, with tents and soldiers in the background. Judith, holding a sword, stands over the fallen Holofernes, who lies on a bed with his head resting on a pillow. Her maid, Abra, is standing to the right of Judith, holding a cloth bag. This small artwork, which measures only 121 mm by 80 mm, is an example of the detailed and often gruesome scenes found in religious engravings of this period. It can be found today in the Rijksmuseum.