Judith

mythological

The Judith of this painting is powerful and strong, but even after her murderous deed a touch of gentleness remains in her eyes. In the painting we see the tendency to psychological interpretation that was to become a feature of 19th-century art. The artist seeks to convey the message of the Biblical story in Judith's facial expression, making this the overall statement.

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About the Artist

August Riedel

1799 – 1883

German painter. Starting 1818 Riedel studied at the Munich Academy with Robert von Langer. In 1823 he undertook his first journey to Italy. Owing to differences with the Director of the Academy, Peter von Cornelius, Riedel went to Dresden where he studied the old masters intensively. In 1832 he relocated permanently to Rome. Riedel, who is also known for his psychologically sensitive portraits, is primarily appreciated for his Italian genre scenes, which, early on, displayed a characteristically heightened and luminous coloration.

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