Judith with the Head of HolofernesAndrea Mantegna (Italian; ca. 1431–1505) or follower, possibly Giu

Judith with the Head of HolofernesAndrea Mantegna (Italian; ca. 1431–1505) or follower, possibly GiulioCampagnola (Italian; 1482–after 1514)ca. 1495/1500Tempera on panelNational Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.It grew late and his staffhurried away. Bagoas closed the tent from the outside, having shown out thosewho still lingered in his lord’s presence. They went to their beds wearied withtoo much drinking, and Judith was left alone in the tent with Holofernes whohad collapsed wine-sodden on his bed. Judith then told her maid to stay justoutside the bedroom and wait for her to come out, as she did every morning. Shehad let it be understood she would be going out to her prayers and had alsospoken of her intention to Bagoas. By now everyone had left Holofernes, and noone, either important or unimportant, was left in the bedroom. Standing besidethe bed, Judith murmured to herself: “Lord God, to whom all strength belongs,prosper what my hands are now to do for the greater glory of Jerusalem; now isthe time to recover your heritage and to further my plans to crush the enemiesarrayed against us.” With that she went up to the bedpost by Holofernes’s headand took down his scimitar; coming closer to the bed she caught him by the hairand said, “Make me strong today, Lord God of Israel!” Twice she struck at hisneck with all her might, and cut off his head. She then rolled his body off thebed and pulled down the canopy from the bedposts. After which, she went out andgave the head of Holofernes to her maid who put it in her food bag. The twothen left the camp together, as they always did when they went to pray. Oncethey were out of the camp, they skirted the ravine, climbed the slope toBethulia and made for the gates. From a distance, Judith shouted to the guardson the gates, “Open the gate! Open! For the Lord our God is with us still,displaying his strength in Israel and his might against our enemies, as he hasdone today!” (Book of Judith 13: 1­–11) -- source link

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