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The return of Judith to Bethulia
StyleRenaissance
GenreReligious
Artwork Details
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Sandro Botticelli painted The Return of Judith to Bethulia around 1472, depicting the biblical heroine's triumphant return after slaying the Assyrian general Holofernes. Judith carries a sword and olive branch while her maid Abra bears the severed head on her own head.
This small tempera on panel measures just 31 by 24 centimeters. It has a pendant work, The Discovery of the Body of Holofernes. Both paintings were donated to Grand Duchess Bianca Cappello around 1580 and reached the Uffizi Gallery in Florence in 1632. Judith represented female strength and courage to Florentine Renaissance viewers.
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About The return of Judith to Bethulia
This work hangs at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The museum holds the world's finest collection of Renaissance painting, including many Botticelli works.
The painting illustrates the Book of Judith, showing the heroine returning to Bethulia after beheading Holofernes. She carries a sword and olive branch of peace while her maid carries the general's severed head.
The panel measures just 31 by 24 centimeters (12 by 9.4 inches), making it an intimate devotional work. Its small size was typical for private contemplation rather than public display.
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