3Judith and Holofernes by Donatello (1457-1464)
Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes is a bronze sculpture that portrays the biblical story of Judith, a Jewish widow who decapitates the Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people. The statue captures the moment after the beheading, with Judith standing triumphantly over Holofernes’ slumped body. This sculpture, commissioned by the Medici family, is notable for its dramatic composition and symbolic meaning, representing the triumph of virtue over tyranny. Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes is one of the earliest examples of sculpture being used to convey political messages.
