Artwork
The Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist
The Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Bernard Van Orley. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A dramatic scene of six figures in fine clothes. A man in blue holds a sword over a body wrapped in red, while two women stand near, one carrying a tray with a severed head. A knight in bright armor looks on, others watch from a balcony, and a lion sits calmly in the corner. Bernard Van Orley painted it in 1514.
Subject & Meaning
The iconography thus conveys the theological significance of John’s death within the early sixteenth‑century devotional context.
The painting illustrates the beheading of Saint John the Baptist, a scene identified as the main subject in the work’s record. It shows the saint at the moment of martyrdom, accompanied by Salome and a woman, within a setting that includes a bed, as documented in the descriptive catalogue. Created in 1514 by Bernard van Orley, the composition functions as a religious depiction of sacrifice and faithful witness, emphasizing the biblical narrative of execution that underscores themes of martyrdom and spiritual testimony. The iconography thus conveys the theological significance of John’s death within the early sixteenth‑century devotional context.
Technique & Style
Bernard van Orley's The Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, executed in 1514, is an oil painting on an oak panel support. The work measures approximately 64.5 to 64.8 centimeters in height and 74.2 to 74.3 centimeters in width. As a religious painting, the artist utilized oil paint to depict the beheading of John the Baptist alongside figures such as Salome, a man, a woman, and a bed.
The composition is classified within the genre of religious art, focusing on the specific narrative moment of the saint's execution. The physical construction relies on a wooden panel, specifically oak, which served as the ground for the oil medium, a standard practice for Northern Renaissance panel paintings of this period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1514, The Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting on oak panel by the Flemish artist Bernard van Orley. The work, which depicts the beheading of John the Baptist alongside figures including Salome, was produced during the early sixteenth century. While specific details regarding its original commission or early ownership history are not provided in the available records, the painting's modern provenance is established by its acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The museum currently holds the work in its collection, having assigned it the accession number 2020.233 upon its entry into the institution.
The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 2020.233. According to the Wikidata record, it forms part of the museum's collection, with its location confirmed as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is executed in oil paint on an oak panel, consistent with its current housing in the institution. No prior exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This oil painting, titled The Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, depicts a dramatic and intense biblical event. It features six figures prominently, dressed in elaborate attire, engaged in a scene of execution. The composition draws the viewer's attention to the central action, where a significant act of sacrifice unfolds.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bernard van Orley (between 1487 and 1491 – 6 January 1541), also called Barend or Barent van Orley, Bernaert van Orley or Barend van Brussel, was a versatile Flemish artist and representative of Dutch and Flemish…
The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows
Virgin and Child with Angels
The Adoration of the Magi![Christ among the Doctors [obverse], by Bernard Van Orley](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/bernard-van-orley--christ-among-the-doctors-obverse--78795f311364e613-w320.webp)
Christ among the Doctors [obverse]
The Marriage of the Virgin
The Virgin and Child
The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist![Putto with Arms of Jacques Coëne [reverse], by Bernard Van Orley](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/bernard-van-orley--putto-with-arms-of-jacques-coene-reverse--841c6ba9c9e9862d-w320.webp)
Putto with Arms of Jacques Coëne [reverse]
