Judith with the Head of Holofernes

In the hands of Veronese even this gloomy scene gains in solemnity by – initially – focusing on stark colours to emphasise the heroine’s worldly beauty. Only on closer inspection do we catch sight of Holofernes’ dark head and the sack that is ready to contain it, held by the servant. It is exactly this contrast between light and dark, between beauty and terror, which gives the picture its Mannerist charm.