Judith and Holofernes 1659

Jan de Bray painted ‘Judith and Holofernes’ sometime in the 17th century, using oil on panel. This dramatic biblical scene was made in the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by economic prosperity and artistic innovation, where artists were commissioned by wealthy middle-class patrons rather than the church or aristocracy. As a result, artists were free to explore a wide range of subjects, including biblical scenes like this one. The painting depicts Judith, a Jewish widow, who is shown beheading the Assyrian general Holofernes in his sleep, thereby saving her people from his invading army. This subject matter speaks to the religious and political values of the time, reflecting the Dutch Republic's own struggle for independence from Spanish rule. To properly understand a painting like this, we might consult historical texts, religious commentaries, and studies of Dutch Golden Age society to gain insight into the complex interplay of faith, politics, and artistic expression that shaped its creation.