The painting is entirely conceived with warm tones. I am reminded of Caravaggio’s painting of St. John the Baptist at the Nelson Atkins Museum—all warm tones. It may go unnoticed. When an artist achieves such a condensed tonal range, I am fascinated.
The marriage of color includes the clothing, jewelry, skin, hair, hat and background, a wonderful collection of color and shape to discover.
The central portion of the painting is the character’s midsection. The garment of the figure is an elaborate construction of line, shape, color, and pattern. One imagines a seamstress with skillful hands. Depicted are bands of intricate weaving with floral designs including crossing lines, delicate borders, and shiny surfaces.
How can I describe Judith’s Expression? She gazes off in the distance. She is thoughtful. She seems quite composed considering she holds a sword and a decapitated head. Her nose and mouth have a simple pertness. Her eyes reveal the elements they are surrounded by, lids, tiny eyelashes, and lightly rendered eyebrows. Her hat is rakishly adorning her head with zest. The hoops of jewelry encompassing the curve of her neck are a marvel of drawing—-a delight to see as is the pattern of the bodice directly below.
And then there is the dilapidated head of Holofernes. The painting has a measure of comic interpretation. The grim head, Judith’s pose, her flatline expression, announce the event like a cataloged set of circumstances. My view of Judith includes a sense of her dialog, “Well. let’s get this done, I want to clean my room”.
By Drew Burgess
Drew Burgess is an art professor at the College of Alameda of the Peralta Community College District of California.
Cite this page: Drew Burgess, “Portrait of a Lady of the Saxon Court as Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Hans Cranach”, November 26, 2024, https://www.drewburgess.art/museum-visits/2024/11/26/portrait-of-a-lady-of-the-saxon-court-as-judith-with-the-head-of-holofernes
Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop (1472-1553), Hans Cranach, “Portrait of a Lady of the Saxon Court as Judith with the Head of Holofernes”, ca. 1537-1540, Oil paint on wood panel, 31 7/16 x 21 7/8 in. (79.9 x 55.6 cm), Museum purchase, Mildred Anna Williams Collection, 1954.74, Legion of Honor--Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Portrait of a Lady of the Saxon Court as Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Hans Cranach, FAMSF—DETAIL
Portrait of a Lady of the Saxon Court as Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Hans Cranach, FAMSF—DETAIL
Portrait of a Lady of the Saxon Court as Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Hans Cranach, FAMSF—DETAIL