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

16th Century Wooden Sculpture depicting the Biblical scene of Judith and Holofernes. Thus Judith, a young Jewess from Bethulia, recounts in the Bible her heroic deed that led Israel to the liberation of its people from the siege of Nebuchadnezzar's army. Judith presented herself at the camp of the cruel Holofernes, commander of the enemy army, dressed in her finest clothes, pretending to want to ally with him. The Assyrian general, struck by her beauty, invited her to a lavish banquet in his tent. After eating and drinking, Holofernes, drunk, fell asleep on his bed, giving Judith the opportunity to snatch his scimitar and deliver the fatal blow. Period: 16th Century Biblical iconography of this subject is very rare. Presumably from the Veneto region. Dimensions: 34 x 23 cm – height 92 cm