Artemisia (also known as Sophonisba or Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes)
Painting on canvas • Rembrandt van Rijn
Style & Movement
Dutch Golden Age / Baroque
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing characteristic chiaroscuro, impasto in the jewels and embroidery, and delicate glazing for skin tones.
Creation Period
1634
Dimensions & Format
143 cm x 154.7 cm; landscape-oriented rectangular format.
Subject Description
A wealthy woman in elaborate historical costume, identified as Artemisia, Sophonisba, or Judith. She is seated at a table, being served a drink in a nautilus cup by a maidservant. The composition uses a dark, atmospheric background with a spectral figure visible behind the protagonist, symbolizing mourning or impending tragedy.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent - meticulously preserved and cleaned by institutional standards.
Estimated Market Value
$150,000,000 - $250,000,000 (Valuation based on comparable museum masterpieces by the artist).
Auction Estimate
$100,000,000 - $200,000,000+ (Extreme rarity of secular history paintings by Rembrandt).
Provenance History
Acquired by the Spanish Royal Collection; it hung in the Royal Palace of Madrid before being transferred to the Museo del Prado.
Art Historical Significance
A fundamental work from Rembrandt's early Amsterdam period. It showcases his mastery of monumental figure painting and his ability to infuse historical subjects with psychological depth and tactile realism.
Notable Features
Includes Rembrandt's signature and the date 1634. Features an extremely high-quality rendering of various textures: fur, silk, pearls, and the pearlescent nautilus shell cup.
Condition Issues
Stable craquelure consistent with age; minor thinning of glazes in background shadows; historical varnish removal.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable climate control (50% RH, 20 degrees Celsius) and low UV-filtered light levels; strictly non-interventionist maintenance.