17th-century Tapestry From The Royal Manufactory Of Aubusson – Judith And Holofernes – No. 1708

Second half of the 17th century

This Aubusson tapestry depicts one of the most dramatic episodes from the Book of Judith, an Old Testament narrative dedicated to the heroine Judith and her deliverance of the city of Bethulia.

The scene depicts the decisive moment when Judith has just beheaded Holofernes, general of the enemy army. Judith, recognizable in the center of the composition by her long gown richly adorned with blue, red, and white motifs, stands beneath Holofernes’ tent. She pulls aside the large curtain of the tent while her companions bustle about her. At her feet, a servant bends over the basket intended to hold the general’s head, while another figure carries or gathers the fabrics that had concealed the scene.

In the background, Holofernes appears reclining on his bed, beneath vast blue draperies. His head has just been severed from his body, an episode that constitutes the climax of the narrative. On the right, a figure dressed in Eastern attire remains inside the tent, accentuating the scene’s exotic and theatrical atmosphere. On the left, several figures—soldiers and servants—appear to be caught up in the flight and confusion that follow Judith’s action.

The story takes place in an Eastern military camp, suggested by the monumental tent, the drapery, the weapons, the clothing, and the architectural elements visible in the distance. The composition thus contrasts the commotion of the camp and the servants with the central figure of Judith, depicted with a calm and determined demeanor. Her gesture, lifting the tent curtain, also creates an opening onto the landscape and the city’s buildings in the background.

The tapestry is framed by a wide decorative border composed of baskets of flowers, bouquets, foliage, and fleurons on a brown background. This border forms a continuous frame around the narrative scene and contrasts with the large blue draperies inside the tent. The numerous floral motifs—bouquets, fruits, foliage, and baskets—are fully in keeping with the decorative vocabulary of Aubusson tapestries from this period.

This work is part of a series of six tapestries dedicated to the story of Judith. The episodes follow the narrative as it unfolds: Judith being implored by the people of Bethulia, Judith in prayer, Judith making her way to Holofernes’ camp, Judith before Holofernes, the beheading of Holofernes, and finally Judith returning to Bethulia with the general’s head. This composition thus corresponds to the fifth episode of the series.

A remarkable feature of this series is the continuity given to the character of Judith: she is always depicted in distinctive Eastern attire, making it possible to identify her from one scene to the next. In this tapestry, her richly decorated dress, combined with the blue and red fabrics surrounding her, clearly distinguishes her from the other characters.

The tapestry bears the signature “ M R D’AUBUSSON”, corresponding to the Royal Manufactory of Aubusson, as well as the initials “PG”, likely associated with the workshop of Pierre Grellet. The Grellet family was among the leading families in tapestry production in Aubusson and maintained a notable reputation until the end of the 18th century.

With its biblical subject matter, theatrical composition, and abundance of fabrics, costumes, architectural elements, and floral ornaments, this tapestry thus combines religious narrative, historical representation, and sumptuous decor, in keeping with the style of the great French narrative tapestries of the second half of the 17th century.