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Lot Essay
Little-known outside of Liège, where most of his small oeuvre remains, Jean Ramey was considered to be one of the most gifted pupils of Lambert Lombard. He was also profoundly influenced by Frans Floris, who had been one of Lambert Lombard's earlier apprentices. In 1573, Ramey took Otto van Veen as his pupil who, in turn, taught Rubens.
Documents record that Ramey was appointed to the post of Inspector at the Goldsmith's Guild in 1585, the same year he painted this hitherto unrecorded and beautifully signed and dated 'Judith with the head of Holofernes'. This panel is quite distinct from what little we know of the rest of his rare oeuvre, which consists of religious subjects, generally much later in date, and much larger in scale. For example, Ramey painted a 'Last Supper' for the Church of St. Peter in Liège in 1576; an impressive 'Adoration of the Shepherds' for the Church of Sainte-Marie-des-Lumière in Glons, near Liège; and a 'St. Paul Healing a Cripple', now in the Musée d'Archeologie, Liège. In contrast, the present panel was presumably painted for a domestic environment, a fact that is apparently borne out by the panel moulding on the reverse of the picture, indicating that it was perhaps part of a cupboard door. The sword Judith holds is a Falchion type, the ornate hilt conforming to the vogue for Roman Revivalism. The inscription, 'Not unto us Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give Glory' is from Psalm 115, and was also the motto of the Knights Templar.
Documents record that Ramey was appointed to the post of Inspector at the Goldsmith's Guild in 1585, the same year he painted this hitherto unrecorded and beautifully signed and dated 'Judith with the head of Holofernes'. This panel is quite distinct from what little we know of the rest of his rare oeuvre, which consists of religious subjects, generally much later in date, and much larger in scale. For example, Ramey painted a 'Last Supper' for the Church of St. Peter in Liège in 1576; an impressive 'Adoration of the Shepherds' for the Church of Sainte-Marie-des-Lumière in Glons, near Liège; and a 'St. Paul Healing a Cripple', now in the Musée d'Archeologie, Liège. In contrast, the present panel was presumably painted for a domestic environment, a fact that is apparently borne out by the panel moulding on the reverse of the picture, indicating that it was perhaps part of a cupboard door. The sword Judith holds is a Falchion type, the ornate hilt conforming to the vogue for Roman Revivalism. The inscription, 'Not unto us Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give Glory' is from Psalm 115, and was also the motto of the Knights Templar.