Salomé was painted by Alfred Stevens in 1894.

Where can I see Salomé?

Salomé is held by Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

What movement is Salomé?

Salomé is associated with Symbolism.

Can I buy a print of Salomé?

Museum-quality prints of Salomé are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Salomé

Alfred Stevens , 1894

Salomé is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Alfred Stevens. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a visual representation of this pivotal religious story, focusing on the figure's presence and the instrument of her infamous request.

Alfred Stevens's 1888 oil painting, titled Salomé, belongs to the genre of religious art and centers on the biblical figure of Salome. The composition depicts the woman seated, holding a tray, with her gaze directed toward the viewer. This direct engagement contrasts with traditional passive portrayals, potentially inviting scrutiny of her role in the narrative.

The inclusion of the tray alludes to the specific moment when she presents the head of John the Baptist, serving as the primary iconographic element that defines the scene. The work functions as a visual representation of this pivotal religious story, focusing on the figure's presence and the instrument of her infamous request.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas in 1888, the painting depicts Salomé seated, her gaze directed toward the viewer. The handling emphasizes smooth modeling of flesh and drapery, with subdued lighting that highlights the figure’s contours and the still-life elements on the tray. The palette is restrained, relying on muted tones punctuated by subtle highlights to articulate form.

The composition arranges the protagonist centrally, her posture and downward glance guiding attention to the object she presents. No visible pentimenti or abrasion is reported, suggesting the work has retained its original surface integrity.

The stylistic qualities align with Stevens’s late-career academic approach, combining precise anatomical description with a restrained, polished finish.

History & Provenance

Alfred Stevens executed the oil painting Salomé in 1888. The work depicts the biblical figure seated and holding a tray while directing her gaze toward the viewer. Created as a religious genre piece on canvas, the artwork entered the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, where it remains housed.

Salomé by Alfred Stevens is held by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, which is also identified as the work's collection. According to the Wikidata record for the painting, its inception is dated to 1888, and it is catalogued as an oil-on-canvas religious work depicting Salome with a tray, shown seated and gazing toward the viewer.

No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.

Overview

Alfred Stevens, a Belgian artist active in the late nineteenth century, painted Salomé in 1894 with oil on canvas. The work portrays a solitary female figure seated before a dark backdrop, her gaze meeting the viewer. It is part of the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.