Caravaggio inspires many of my projects, recently I had the chance to collaborate with Actress Clare Foster. Recreating the character of Judith from the painting, Judith Beheading Holofernes the biblical episode by Caravaggio. Painted in 1602, in which the widow Judith stayed with the Assyrian general Holofernes in his tent after a banquet then decapitated him after he passed out drunk.
The depiction somewhat heroic, I wanted Clare to imagine the scene and recreate the expressions, both that of heroism and horror. Dynamically challenging the established norm and instead injecting moments of spontaneity, and even awkwardness, in to the portrait. The results are stunning and I’m looking forward to creating more portraits in this style.