Judith with the Head of Holofernes c. 1530

Lucas Cranach the Elder's *Judith with the Head of Holofernes* (c. 1530) is a depiction of the biblical heroine Judith who, in an act of defiance and courage, beheads the Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people from invasion. Cranach, a prominent figure in the German Renaissance, paints Judith in fashionable attire of the time, highlighting her strength and resolve, while the severed head of Holofernes emphasizes the consequences of her heroic act. This work showcases the artist's mastery of detail, particularly in the depiction of Judith's elegant jewelry and the realistic rendering of Holofernes's gruesome fate.