Skip to main content
Items Similar to Judith - British 1929 exh. Post Impressionist art oil painting
Charles Buchel - Portrait of Mary Haggie - British 1925 art portrait landscape oil painting
Portrait of Mary Haggie - British 1925 art portrait landscape oil painting
Unknown - Vintage American Impressionist Large Nude Woman Interior Framed Oil Painting
Vintage American Impressionist Large Nude Woman Interior Framed Oil Painting
Suzanne Dinkes - 1930's French Post Impressionist Oil Painting Portrait of Seated Nude Lady Model
1930's French Post Impressionist Oil Painting Portrait of Seated Nude Lady Model
Arthur Ambrose McEvoy - Portrait of a Lady, Early 20th Century Oil
Portrait of a Lady, Early 20th Century Oil
Unknown - Portrait Of "Aurelia", circa 1930 by FRANK JAMESON (1899-1968)
Portrait Of "Aurelia", circa 1930 by FRANK JAMESON (1899-1968)
Mathias Alten - Nude Dancer, 1920s, Grand Rapids, Michigan Artist
Nude Dancer, 1920s, Grand Rapids, Michigan Artist
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller.

Margaret Maitland Howard
Judith - British 1929 exh. Post Impressionist art oil painting

1929

$13,031.41
£9,500
€11,606.18
CA$18,395.99
A$18,821.73
CHF 10,676.28
MX$241,255.17
NOK 122,435.10
SEK 127,616.78
DKK 86,757.15

About the Item

This absolutely fascinating British Post Impressionist figurative exhibited oil painting is by noted female artist Margret Maitland Howard. It was awarded first prize in the Summer Composition Prize at Slade School of Art in 1929 and exhibited in 1931 at the Royal Academy, London, simply entitled Judith. It is a full-length depiction of Judith, having just seduced and decapitated Holofernes, an invading Syrian General, in order to save her besieged city of Bethulia from his surrounding army. (The full story is below Howard's biography). She is aided by her maidservant, Abra. In the biblical story, this act is a significant moment in the narrative, symbolizing courage and empowerment of women in the face of great adversity. The story of Judith and Holofernes has been popular since the renaissance, depicted mostly by male artists. It's like a female version of David and Goliath. However, female artist Artemisia Gentileschi's (1630-1656) depictions of Judith slaying Holofernes have often been interpreted through a feminist lens due to her personal history as a rape survivor and her status as a woman in a male-dominated profession, both causing female rage. While her works share thematic and compositional elements with Caravaggio’s earlier rendition, Artemisia’s versions intensify the physical struggle and violence. Unlike Caravaggio, who portrays Judith as delicate and her maid as an elderly onlooker, Artemisia depicts both women as young, strong, and actively collaborating in the act. In this stunning Post Impressionist 1931 version everything is paired down into simple shapes and colours; the white tents against the blue sky, the bloody tip of the Holfernes own knife against Judith's pale skin. The emphasis is on Judith, not the struggle. The scene is post sex and murder and what she has just had to go through, (chastely celibate since her husband's death), emphasised by her nudity, as well as the murder she has carried out, in order to save her besieged city, when no one else could. Both women look to the far right, presumably at their city and the reason for their heroic act which led to Holofernes' army being defeated. This is a superb exhibited painting by a well sought after female artist depicting a biblical story of a supremely brave woman in a Post Impressionist 1920's style. Signed 'Maitland Howard' lower left Provenance: Exhibited: Royal Academy, 1931, as 'Judith', no. 740 Caelt Gallery, London, mis-titled as 'Solomon's Head', where purchased by the previous owner in February 1993; Private Collection, UK . Condition. Oil on canvas, image size is 20 inches by 16 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a gilt frame. Framed size is 28 inches by 24 inches and in good condition. Margaret Maitland Howard (1898 – 1983) was a painter, illustrator and draughtsman. Born in London, she studied at the Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art and Royal Academy Schools, where she was a multiple silver medal-winner. She exhibited at the RA, NEAC and SWA, amongst others. Though a 20th Century artist her best work has a romantic neo-classical style reminiscent of the Pre-Raphaelites and late Victorian classicists. According to the Book of Judith, Holofernes had been dispatched by "Nebuchadnezzar" to take vengeance on the Kingdom of Judah, which had withheld assistance in his most recent war. Having occupied every land along the coastline, Holofernes outlawed the worship of any god other than Nebuchadnezzar. Despite being warned against attacking by Achior, the leader of the Ammonites, Holofernes laid siege to the city of Bethulia. The city almost fell to the invading army because Holofernes' advance stopped the water supply to Bethulia, which led to its people encouraging their rulers to capitulate. The leaders vowed to surrender if no help arrived within five days. Bethulia was saved by Judith, a Judean widow, who entered the camp of Holofernes, seduced him, and got him drunk before beheading him. She returned to Bethulia with the severed head. The assassination of Holofernes led to the defeat of his army. Holofernes is depicted in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Monk's Tale in The Canterbury Tales, and in Dante's Purgatorio, in which Holofernes is to be found on the Terrace of Pride as an example of pride cast down, XII.58–60. As a painter's subject he offers the chance to contrast the flesh and jewels of a beautiful, festively attired woman with the grisly head of the victim, a deuterocanonical parallel to the Yael sequence in the Hebrew Bible, as well as the New Testament vignette of Salome with the head of John the Baptist.
  • Creator:
    Margaret Maitland Howard (1898 - 1983, British)
  • Creation Year:
    1929
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 25 in (63.5 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
    Oil
  • Movement & Style:
    Post-Impressionist
  • Period:
    1920-1929
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Hagley, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU853118079342

More From This Seller

View All
Portrait of a Young Lady - British art 20's Impressionist oil painting portrait

Walter Ernest WebsterPortrait of a Young Lady - British art 20's Impressionist oil painting portrait, circa 1920

Portrait of a Young Lady - British art 20's Impressionist oil painting portrait

By Walter Ernest Webster

Located in Hagley, England

This lovely portrait was painted circa 1920 by the noted British Impressionist portrait painter Walter Ernest Webster. This painting depicts a beautiful young woman in an Impressioni...

Category

1920s Impressionist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of Elizabeth Exley - British Art Deco 1930's portrait oil painting

James Robert Granville ExleyPortrait of Elizabeth Exley - British Art Deco 1930's portrait oil painting, circa 1935

Portrait of Elizabeth Exley - British Art Deco 1930's portrait oil painting

By James Robert Granville Exley

Located in Hagley, England

This lovely British Art Deco portrait oil painting is by noted artist James Robert Granville Exley and provenance is by family descent. The sitter is Elizabeth Exley, possibly his wi...

Category

1930s Art Deco Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of Young Lady in Red - British 20's Impressionist oil painting interior

Walter Ernest WebsterPortrait of Young Lady in Red - British 20's Impressionist oil painting interior, circa 1920

Portrait of Young Lady in Red - British 20's Impressionist oil painting interior

By Walter Ernest Webster

Located in Hagley, England

Painted circa 1920 by the noted British Impressionist portrait painter Walter Ernest Webster, this lovely oil painting depicts a beautiful young woman in an impressionist palette. Si...

Category

1920s Impressionist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

You May Also Like

Nude Oil Painting, American Impressionist, Signed 1923, Framed

William WiesslerNude Oil Painting, American Impressionist, Signed 1923, Framed, 1923

Nude Oil Painting, American Impressionist, Signed 1923, Framed

By William Wiessler

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Nude Oil on canvas, 1923 Signed and dated lower left: Wm. Wiessler, '23 (see photo) Condition: excellent Canvas size: 24 1/4 x 29 1/4" Frame size: 33 5/8 x 38 5/8" Provenance: Estate of the Artist Radecki Galleries, South Bend Thomas French Fine Art...

Category

1920s American Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil

Woman, Modern Oil Painting on Canvas, Unsigned, 1930s, Framed

Antonio FeltrinelliWoman, Modern Oil Painting on Canvas, Unsigned, 1930s, Framed, 1930s

Woman, Modern Oil Painting on Canvas, Unsigned, 1930s, Framed

By Antonio Feltrinelli

Located in Roma, IT

Woman is an orignal modern artwork realized by Antonio Feltrinelli in 1930s. Mixed colored oil painting on canvas. Not signed. Antonio Feltrinelli (Milan, 1887 – Gargnano, 1942) ...

Category

1930s Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paint, Oil

Nude Dancer, 1920s, Grand Rapids, Michigan Artist

Mathias AltenNude Dancer, 1920s, Grand Rapids, Michigan Artist, circa 1925

Nude Dancer, 1920s, Grand Rapids, Michigan Artist

By Mathias Alten

Located in Grand Rapids, MI

Mathias Alten (German/American, 1871-1938) Signed: M. Alten (Lower, Right) " Nude Dancer ", circa 1925 Oil on Canvas 42" x 32" Housed in a 3" Carved Ne...

Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Beautiful Lady, Impressionist Oil Painting, Framed, Circa 1910-1919

Jacques GoninA Beautiful Lady, Impressionist Oil Painting, Framed, Circa 1910-1919

A Beautiful Lady, Impressionist Oil Painting, Framed, Circa 1910-1919

By Jacques Gonin

Located in St. Albans, GB

Jacques Fernand GONIN A very good and typical example of his work. The canvas is in very good condition with no patches or reline. It is signed clearly in the top left hand corner. Outside Frame Size: 17.25" x 13.75 (44 x 33cm) Painting Size: 13 x 9.5" (33 x 24cm) Gonin was a painter of genre scenes and portraits. He was born in Milan, Italy on the 14th December 1883 before moving to France...

Category

1910s Impressionist Paintings

Materials

Oil

1930's French Post Impressionist Oil Painting Portrait of Seated Nude Lady Model

Suzanne Dinkes1930's French Post Impressionist Oil Painting Portrait of Seated Nude Lady Model, 1930's

1930's French Post Impressionist Oil Painting Portrait of Seated Nude Lady Model

By Suzanne Dinkes

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

The Artists Model, Nude Lady posing for the artist circa 1930's Artist/ School: Suzanne Dinkés (French, 1895 - 1984) Medium: oil on canvas, unframed Size : 22 x 18.5 inches Provenanc...

Category

Mid-20th Century Post-Impressionist Nude Paintings

Materials

Oil