Sistine Chapel Ceiling: Judith Carrying the Head of Holofernes 1512

Michelangelo's "Judith Carrying the Head of Holofernes" is a fresco painted in 1512 as part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. It depicts a scene from the biblical book of Judith where Judith, a Jewish widow, carries the head of Holofernes, an Assyrian general, after having tricked him into a drunken sleep and beheading him, to save her people. The dramatic composition, strong anatomical rendering, and vibrant colors are characteristic of Michelangelo's High Renaissance style. This scene, along with other biblical scenes, powerfully conveys the story of salvation through sacrifice and heroism.