Bloody Work

Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598-99) by the Italian Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610).

Seductive Orient

Potiphar’s Wife a modern Illustration, maybe from a religious book for children.

Despite the costumes and architecture seem well done it’s anything but a good painting. The gestures are ridiculous, it looks much more as if they are playing or acting in a cheap theatre. But above all it’s very interesting that she is depicted as an oriental woman our hero in contrast looks like an all American boy.

Action Movie

This poster for the movie "Esther and the King" (1960) shows how Hollywood liked to interpret those stories. There is a lot of action violating and plundering soldiers, harem scenes and so on.
But the best is Joan Collins as Esther with her absolutely modern hairstyle and cleavage dress.

Bloody Reward

The Dancer's Reward (1907) by the English artist Aubrey Vincent Beardsley (1872–1898).
In this illustration to Oscar Wilde’s Salomé the wicked heroine seems as terrified as her victim.

Mannerist Susanna

Susanna and the Elders by the Italian painter Alessandro di Cristofano di Lorenzo del Bronzino Allori (1535-1607).
As a good Mannerist artist Allori shows above all what he is capable of. There are strange movements, packed action and not least a perfect body.
I especially like her little dog which is defending its mistress.

Glamorous Delilah

Delilah (1948) by the great Australian born artist Henry Clive.

Clive started in the 1920's painting Ziegfeld Girls, then big stars like Gloria Swanson and Polga Negri for promo campaigns. Later he painted covers for American Weekly. He specialized in elegant glamorous women. His Delilah here is represented by the American singer and actress Beryl Wallace.

Snake Girls

The British actresses Rachel Weisz and Rhona Mitra with snakes. Despite it looks quite fashionable it’s not least a modern interpretation of the old biblical myths od Eva, Lilith the Snake Goddess and the female evil. But probably that’s what it makes so interesting today.

Furthermore it should be noticed that the postures are entirely copied from 19th century paintings.