Download Teacher's Guide - Saint Louis Art Museum

In this painting based on a story from the Bible, the
heroine Judith holds a sword above her head as she
stands over a sleeping man. Judith and her maid Abra
had entered the enemy camp of the Assyrian (A-SEARee-an)
army with an offer to reveal secret information.
Pretending to be on his side, Judith requested a meeting
with the general Holofernes (ho-low-FAIR-knees). The
general was captivated by her charm and invited her
to a private feast. After the meal, Holofernes fell asleep.
Judith took advantage of his condition and beheaded
him, leaving the Assyrian forces in chaos. The artist
shows Judith as a woman of great strength and power.
Judith’s dynamic pose, bulging muscles, and militarylike
costume highlight her victory. Over time, the story
of Judith has come to symbolize triumph over cruelty
and oppression.
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Giorgio Vasari, Italian, 1511–1574
Judith and Holofernes, c.1554
oil on panel
42 1/2 x 31 3/8 inches
Friends Fund and funds given in honor of
Betty Greenfield Grossman 2:1982
For younger students:
Make a list of adjectives that describe the painting.
What do you think happened before or will happen
after this scene?
For older students:
Why do you think the artist chose to portray this
particular moment from the story?
Judith’s courageous act helped save her town from
enemy forces. Name some other women who have
performed heroic deeds.
Although the title of this painting is Christ Shown to
the People, the artist has chosen to depict what happens
before Jesus is actually shown to the crowd. To the right
stands the elderly governor Pontius Pilate (PON-chus
PI-lut), wearing a luxurious costume trimmed with fur
and decorated with jewels. On the left is a young servant,
also dressed in elaborate clothing. In contrast, the bearded
figure of Jesus Christ stands between the two, covered
only in a simple cloth and wearing a crown of thorns.
Christ’s downturned gaze expresses humility; Pontius
Pilate looks off to the right expectantly; the young
boy looks to the right with an expression of animated
anticipation. The simple composition and dark tones
of the painting invite us to contemplate the scene and
speculate on what will come next.
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Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), Italian, c.1485-90–1576
Christ Shown to the People (Ecce Homo), c.1570–76
oil on canvas
43 x 37 5/16 inches
Museum Purchase 10:1936
For younger students:
Compare and contrast this painting with Rembrandt’s
Christ Presented to the People (“The Ecce Homo”)
(poster 11).
Choose one of the people in the painting and tell what
you think he was doing before this scene takes place.
For older students:
Some sections of this work are painted in fine detail,
while others are rendered in loose brushwork. Identify
examples of both, and discuss the effect this has on how
you see the painting.
Compare and contrast this painting with Rembrandt’s
Christ Presented to the People (“The Ecce Homo”)
(poster 11). What has each artist chosen to emphasize?
How might the differences in these works change the
way we relate to the event and its characters?
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