Judith with the Head of Holofernes c. 1497

Giovanni Antonio da Brescia made this engraving, *Judith with the Head of Holofernes,* around 1500 in Italy, during the Renaissance. It depicts Judith, a biblical figure, holding the head of Holofernes after she assassinated him to save her people from the Assyrian army. Engravings like this one were luxury items that circulated among elite collectors. Consider the inscription "Diva Iudith" above Judith’s head: this elevates her to the status of a goddess or a saint. During the Renaissance, there was a renewed interest in classical art and literature, which is reflected in the idealised forms and heroic themes here. Italian society was deeply religious, and stories from the Bible were common subjects for art. The tale of Judith was popular because it celebrated courage, virtue, and the triumph of the weak over the strong. The image thus participates in a discourse about ideal virtues, female strength and power. By studying historical texts, religious practices, and artistic conventions of the time, we can begin to understand the social role that this work played in its own era.