The art during the Renaissance and “High Renaissance” was the start to break away from art being made for religious purposes. However, that is not to say that all art during that period was non-religious art. German artist, Lucas Cranach, was still very involved the painting of religious pieces that told stories from the Bible. “A Portrait of a Lady of the Saxon Court as Judith With the Head of Holofernes”, tells the story of Judith going into the tent of Holofernes and seducing him while he drinks and eventually decapitates him after he falls asleep. During the Renaissance period the depiction of women was a very sexualized and were meant to be paintings that suggested seduction and lust. However, the painting of Judith is the opposite and
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The mediums he used were, “woodcuts, painted altarpieces, and portraits,” (Art: A Brief History, 359). Cranach was a German artist during the time of the Italian renaissance and often has his work compared to Titian because of the women in his work; his “Nymph of the Spring” is constantly compared to Titians “Venus of Umbrio” because of the subject matter. Both are paintings of women, but both evoke different feelings for the viewer, “unlike other artist working for Protestant patrons, many of whom looked on earthly beautify sinful vanity, Cranach seems delighted by earthly things,” (Art: A Brief History, 359). While there were more nude paintings than we have seen in the past, the nudes during the Renaissance periods were thought of as more tasteful and artistic than sexual. Cranach embraced the sexuality more so than was seen at the time. Although he is sexualizing women it seems to be an empowering sexuality in his painting of "Nymph of the spring” he writes, “I am the nymph of the sacred font. Do not interrupt my sleep for I am at peace,” (Art: A brief History, 359). Cranach seems to be putting the power back in the hands of women while still letting them be unapologetic sexual …show more content…
The night before the raid was to happen Judith took actions into her own hands, "Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holocene’s stretched out on the bed, for he was overcome with wine (Judith 13,2)..She came close to the bed and took hold of the hair of his head, and said: "Give me strength this day, O Lord God of Israel!” And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed his head from his body (Judith 13,6-8)” (Book of Judith). This is a perfect story of the power of women that is being portrayed through art by Cranach. In the painting Judith fully clothed, nothing sexual about her, and she looks rather unimpressed as she holds the head of Holocene’s. Her facial expression is what makes this painting so interesting. Judith has committed a horrific murder and she looks extremely bored after the fact. Her unimpressed look shows her power. She is not surprised she was able to pull of such a feat, men are weak and if you give a man wine and a woman they are defeated. Judith knew this, saw her chance, and took it. That is why this painting is so strong for its time. Women have always been overlooked thus making them extremely dangerous. Cranach did not need to paint her as a sexual being either to show her power. She is not half naked; she is fully clothed and used the power of seduction to become stronger than any
The mediums he used were, “woodcuts, painted altarpieces, and portraits,” (Art: A Brief History, 359). Cranach was a German artist during the time of the Italian renaissance and often has his work compared to Titian because of the women in his work; his “Nymph of the Spring” is constantly compared to Titians “Venus of Umbrio” because of the subject matter. Both are paintings of women, but both evoke different feelings for the viewer, “unlike other artist working for Protestant patrons, many of whom looked on earthly beautify sinful vanity, Cranach seems delighted by earthly things,” (Art: A Brief History, 359). While there were more nude paintings than we have seen in the past, the nudes during the Renaissance periods were thought of as more tasteful and artistic than sexual. Cranach embraced the sexuality more so than was seen at the time. Although he is sexualizing women it seems to be an empowering sexuality in his painting of "Nymph of the spring” he writes, “I am the nymph of the sacred font. Do not interrupt my sleep for I am at peace,” (Art: A brief History, 359). Cranach seems to be putting the power back in the hands of women while still letting them be unapologetic sexual …show more content…
The night before the raid was to happen Judith took actions into her own hands, "Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holocene’s stretched out on the bed, for he was overcome with wine (Judith 13,2)..She came close to the bed and took hold of the hair of his head, and said: "Give me strength this day, O Lord God of Israel!” And she struck his neck twice with all her might, and severed his head from his body (Judith 13,6-8)” (Book of Judith). This is a perfect story of the power of women that is being portrayed through art by Cranach. In the painting Judith fully clothed, nothing sexual about her, and she looks rather unimpressed as she holds the head of Holocene’s. Her facial expression is what makes this painting so interesting. Judith has committed a horrific murder and she looks extremely bored after the fact. Her unimpressed look shows her power. She is not surprised she was able to pull of such a feat, men are weak and if you give a man wine and a woman they are defeated. Judith knew this, saw her chance, and took it. That is why this painting is so strong for its time. Women have always been overlooked thus making them extremely dangerous. Cranach did not need to paint her as a sexual being either to show her power. She is not half naked; she is fully clothed and used the power of seduction to become stronger than any