Wooden Sculpture: Judith and Holofernes, Veneto, 16th century

16th-century wooden sculpture depicting the biblical scene of Judith and Holofernes. Thus Judith, a young Jewish woman from Bethulia, comments in the Bible on her heroic act that led Israel to liberate its people from the siege of Nebuchadnezzar's army. Judith had presented herself at the camp of the cruel Holofernes, leader of the enemy army, dressed in her best clothes, pretending to want to ally herself with him. The Assyrian general, struck by her beauty, invites her to a lavish banquet in his tent. After eating and drinking, Holofernes, drunk, falls asleep in his bed, giving Judith the opportunity to take his scimitar and inflict the mortal blow. Period: 16th century The biblical iconography of this subject is extremely rare. Presumably from the Venetian area. Measurements: 34 x 23 cm – height 92 cm