Where is this Gentileschi painting?

Judith and her Maidservant is at Palazzo Pitti in Florence. It was documented in Grand Duchess Maria Maddalena's collection by 1638.

What moment does this show?

It depicts the escape after the killing. Judith and Abra have just beheaded Holofernes and are leaving his tent, startled by a sound. The severed head is in the basket.

How big is the painting?

The canvas measures 114 x 93.5 cm (about 45 x 37 inches). Gentileschi used Tenebrism to create dramatic contrast between light and dark.

Why is Abra shown young?

Most artists depicted Abra as elderly, but Gentileschi shows her near Judith's age. This emphasizes the partnership between the women and their shared purpose.

Where Is Judith and her Maidservant? See It at Palazzo Pitti

Artemisia Gentileschi executed this tense scene around 1615, showing Judith and her maidservant Abra in the moments after assassinating the general Holofernes. The two women stand alert in the darkness of his tent, seemingly startled by a sound. Judith's hand rests protectively on Abra's shoulder, emphasizing their partnership and shared purpose. The severed head is visible in the basket Abra carries.

The dark setting is illuminated by rich red and gold tones in the fabrics, colors Gentileschi used frequently during her time in Florence. The screaming head on the sword's pommel, possibly Medusa, reminds viewers of the violence just committed. Unlike most artists who depicted Abra as elderly, Gentileschi shows her as young, closer to Judith's age, emphasizing female solidarity.

This painting hangs at Palazzo Pitti in Florence and was first documented in the collection of Grand Duchess Maria Maddalena of Austria in 1638. Gentileschi returned to Judith's story in eight surviving works, making it her most frequent subject.