In the context of Judith Slaying Holofernes (Artemisia Gentileschi, Florence), analyze the The Catholic Reformation of the Subject.
Baroque art came about during the Catholic Reformation (also known as the Counter-Reformation) in the 17th century. This was a period when Protestantism was rapidly gaining ground in Europe, as an alternative to Catholicism, which threatened the might of the Roman Catholic Church. This new theology fundamentally rejected the perceived worship of religious iconography on the grounds of idolatry, with the guidance of figures such as John Calvin and Martin Luther. In response, the Council of Trent reaffirmed the importance of the visual arts for the Catholic faith. Baroque art served as an extension of the influence of the Catholic Church, most often depicting historical and religious imagery through heightened realism.      
Judith is a figure that has been both embraced and rejected by the Catholic and Protestant denominations through time. Indeed, depending on the potential use of Judith within a Christian narrative, she is either a symbol of purity or temptation. But during the Catholic Reformation Judith remained most often a symbol of divine virtue to contrast the heretical Holofernes.
John Calvin Baroque idolatry Catholic Church realism Roman Catholic Church Holofernes Protestantism Martin Luther Catholicism Catholic Reformation Counter-Reformation