cristofano

navigate by keyword : allori amazing appears arrived art artemisia artist autobiographically beautiful beauty biblical candor caravaggio carried clothing collections contrasted copied cosimo cristofano death decapitated deed direct divine england exquisite extraordinarily face family famous florentine gallery gentileschi hand head heroine holds holofernes horror industry influence interpretations interpreted judith legend london lover luxurious master masterpiece mazzafirra murder painted painting palace period pitti portrait portrayed protection proud quality queens self service skin success sure teachings textile tones tribute violent woman work young

Presentation of Mary to the temple by Alessandro Allori in 1598 in Cathedral of St.Martin in Lucca, Italy Royalty Free Stock Photo

Alessandro Allori - Presentazione di Maria al tempio 1598 oil on canvas Royalty Free Stock Photo

Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Cristofano Allori at the Queen`s Gallery in London England

The most famous painting by Florentine artist Cristofano Allori, carried out between 1610 and 1612, became an instant success and was widely copied, due in part to the popularity of the legend of the biblical heroine Judith which the artist interpreted autobiographically; the decapitated head of Holofernes is a self-portrait while his lover Mazzafirra is portrayed in the beautiful face of the young woman, whose extraordinarily luxurious clothing is a direct tribute to the city`s thriving textile industry. After the painter`s death in 1621, the painting became part of the Medici collections and arrived at the Pitti Palace in 1666. This work by Cristofano acknowledges his influence from Caravaggio through the teachings of Artemisia Gentileschi who, in the same period in the service of the Medici family, painted two violent interpretations of Judith for Cosimo II