Gentileschi and Caravaggio Compare and Contrast Essay

Gentileschi and Caravaggio Compare and Contrast Essay

Throughout centuries , artists and painters have constantly been trying to find different ways to portray the significant biblical story of Judith and Holofernes . The story talks about a woman known as Judith who is a Jewish widow . In to try to stop the opposing enemy from attacking her people , she joins some sort of camp with her servant , who is also a woman . Here , these two women learn to fight in to confront and take action against their leader . Both women were able to go

into the camp by using their exquisite charm to bribe the guards of the camp with the alluring beauty , as well as Holofernes . Holofernes is then played by the women , where he is tricked . He believes that these two women are in fact on the side of his army , and he accepts Judith 's tactics in postponing the attack . Comes dinner time , he is up to the point where he is so drunk that he had passed out , making Holofernes very vulnerable , which in return , made it much easier for Judith to carry on her principal intentions of killing Holofernes . The women came home with victory , with Holofernes head in their hands , which assured the people that they were no longer in harms ways

Artists have represented this story in numerous different ways . Some depict the time before Judith kills Holofernes , where she prays to God for guidance . Other artists capture the essence of Judith having Holofernes ' head placed in a basket , while she is on her way back home Artemisia Gentileschi 's portrayal of this biblical story is titled Judith Decapitating Holofernes , which was painted around 1620 . Her creation is ingenious , with a lot of energy and violence , showing the moment right when Judith slays Holofernes ' throat , bringing out a sense of feminine power , justice , and control , in where other artists in the past have not been able to depict . On the other hand , Caravaggio 's Judith and Holofernes painted around 1598 , is a painting from a male 's point of view , portraying Judith as depending on God 's power and strength as a means that gives her power . Gentileschi , however , from a woman 's point of view , puts great emphasis that her courage , power , and strength comes from herself being a woman . When analyzing the characters in the paintings and what their body language is trying to show , there is a significant difference that surfaces because of gender difference of the artists

In Judith Decapitating Holofernes , Gentileschi allows the viewer to perceive a great sense of realism and energy . Judith , dressed in a loud and bold blue dress and the servant is dressed in a vibrant red dress These audacious and contrasting colors put the two women where it catches the viewers ' attention . There is an immense amount of dramatic and strong energy in the painting . She places these three characters in a tight and dark space , to where are main focus is just...