Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Fede Galizia, Milan, 1596

Fede Galizia, better known as Galizia, was born in Milan in 1578. Galizia was a daughter of a painter, Nunzio Galizia, and became popular from portrait paintings and religious compositions. The painting I chose was made in 1596 and titled “Judith with the Head of Holofernes.” She painted Judith with the Head of Holofernes at age eighteen. It is an italian renaissance portrait painting, with a biblical meaning behind it. The story of Judith made an impression on Galizia at a young age and she over time used the subject of Judith in various ways. In this version we see her dressed up, wearing multiple pieces of jewelry and her head wearing a diadem. 

Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Fede Galizia, Milan, 1596

The story of Judith with the Head of Holofernes comes from the Book of Judith in the Apocrypha and was a popular subject with private collectors and painters at that time. Women identified with Judith as a heroine and men viewed the story as a warning not to lose your head over a woman. Judith was a wealthy Jewish widow whose village was being attacked by the Assyrian Army led by General Holofernes. As seen depicted in this painting, Judith with her maid pretends to defect to the enemy camp, and she makes sure he consumes too much alcohol until he falls asleep. Judith then severs his head with a sword and her maid hides his head in a basket. In the morning the Assyrians discover their general was murdered and leave, sparing Judith's village. 

During this time period there were various successful female painters, some who painted their own depictions of this scene of Judith. She was often commissioned to paint religious and secular themes. Several of her paintings based on the story of Judith and Holofernes, a popular theme in art of this time period, survive in private collections. The style of her portraits derived from the naturalistic traditions of the Renaissance in Italy with a sharply realistic approach to details. Most of her surviving works are still lives, which was a new genre for this time period. One of her signed still lifes made in 1602 is said to be the first dated still life by an Italian artist, and proves her involvement in this new style of painting. She was focus on art since childhood and was able to inspire other female artists during this time. People have said that this painting is actually a self-portrait of Galizia, placing herself in such a powerful scene tells me she could have had great confidence during this time period like Judith does. Galizia never got married and passed away when she was 52 possibly from the plague.