Judith with the Head of Holofernes 1495

Andrea Mantegna's "Judith with the Head of Holofernes," a pen and brown ink drawing created in 1495, depicts the biblical story of Judith, a young widow, who beheads the Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people from invaders. The drawing's dramatic composition, with Judith holding Holofernes' head and the looming figure of a servant, highlights the emotional tension of the scene. Mantegna was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his use of perspective, which are evident in the drawing's realistic portrayal of the figures and their surroundings.