Violence and Virtue: Artemisia Gentileschi’s

Judith Slaying Holofernes from Florence

In Fall 2013, the Art Institute of Chicago in collaboration with the Foundation For Italian Art and Culture (FIAC) will open an important exhibition focused on Artemisia Gentileschi’s masterpiece, Judith Slaying Holofernes from the Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. Informed by the Old Testament Apocrypha of Judith, Artemisia Gentileschi’s painting represents the decisive moment of the narrative—when the Jewish heroine Judith savagely decapitates the Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people. Rather than focusing on the ideals of beauty and courage also inspired by this story, like many other Italian artists, Artemisia chooses to depict the most dramatic and bloody moment of the story. Her depiction of Judith as a dauntless manslayer has generated heated debate about the artist’s intentions and persona. To help explore these questions, a selection of paintings, drawings and prints on the theme of Judith from the Art Institute’s collection will also be on display. Highlighted by this exceptional loan from Italy, this exhibition will explore the historical importance of Artemisia Gentileschi, as well as the Judith theme in art history.