Francesco del Cairo, (1607 - 1665)
Scena Biblica, Judith & Holofernes
Oil on Canvas
cm. 57x65
Private collection
The Book of Judith is the Old Testament of the Bible. The story revolves around
Judith, a daring and beautiful widow, who is upset with her Jewish countrymen
for not trusting God to deliver them from their foreign conquerors. She goes
with her loyal maid to the camp of the enemy general, Holofernes, with whom she
slowly ingratiates herself, promising him information on the Israelites.
Gaining his trust, she is allowed access to his tent one night as he lies in a
drunken stupor. She decapitates him, then takes his head back to her fearful
countrymen. The Assyrians, having lost their leader, disperse, and Israel is
saved. Though she is courted by many, Judith remains unmarried for the rest of
her life. More
on The Book of Judith
Francesco Cairo (26 September 1607 – 27
July 1665) was an Italian Baroque painter active in Lombardy and Piedmont. He
was born and died in Milan. It is not known where he obtained his early
training though he is strongly influenced by the circle of il Morazzone, in
works such as the Saint Teresa altarpiece in the Certosa di Pavia.
In 1633,
Cairo moved to Turin to work as a court painter. Between 1637–1638, Cairo
travelled to Rome, where he encounters the works of Pietro da Cortona, Guido
Reni and of the Caravaggisti. He returns to Lombardy to complete altarpieces
for the Certosa of Pavia and a church at Casalpusterlengo. Between 1646–1649,
he returns to Turin, and paints an altarpiece for Savigliano and the church of
San Salvario. He is also known as Il Cavalière del Cairo, because in Turin, he
received the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus in recognition of his merit.
Many of his works are eccentric depictions of
religious ecstasies; the saints appear liquefied and contorted by piety. He
often caps them with exuberant, oriental turbans. More on
Francesco Cairo
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