Artwork
Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Luini Bernardino. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work of religious art, the composition centers on Salome as the primary subject, presenting her in the moment of bearing the martyr's head.
The painting depicts Salome holding the severed head of Saint John the Baptist, a narrative drawn from religious tradition. As a work of religious art, the composition centers on Salome as the primary subject, presenting her in the moment of bearing the martyr's head. The imagery serves as a visual representation of the biblical account where the execution of the prophet is finalized.
By focusing on the figure of Salome alongside the relic of the saint, the work illustrates the dramatic intersection of human agency and divine consequence found in the story.
Technique & Style
Executed around 1500, this religious painting by Bernardino Luini utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures approximately 46.6 cm in height and 59.7 cm in width. As a piece of religious art, it depicts the biblical figure Salome holding the severed head of Saint John the Baptist.
The composition focuses on this singular narrative moment, characteristic of Luini's approach to sacred subjects during the early sixteenth century.
History & Provenance
The painting Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist was created by the Italian artist Bernardino Luini around the year 1500. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 46.6 cm in height and 59.7 cm in width. The specific commission details and the early ownership chain of the piece are not documented in the available records.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1916.824. No further information regarding its provenance prior to its acquisition by the museum is provided in the sources.
The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under accession number 1916.824. It entered the museum’s collection in 1916.
The work has been exhibited at the Cleveland Museum of Art in the 1959 presentation Italian Paintings from the Permanent Collection.
Overview
Bernardino Luini, a northern Italian artist associated with Leonardo da Vinci's circle, created Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist around 1500. This oil painting, now housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, exemplifies the religious themes prevalent during the High Renaissance. It showcases Luini's engagement with contemporary artistic trends, particularly in its figural representation and atmospheric qualities.
Context
Active during the High Renaissance, Bernardino Luini was part of Leonardo da Vinci's artistic circle in northern Italy. This association significantly shaped his artistic development, leading him to incorporate elements of Leonardo's innovative style. The painting exemplifies the period's interest in religious narratives and the evolving techniques of oil painting to convey emotional depth and visual sophistication.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardino Luini (c. 1480/82 – June 1532) was a north Italian painter from Leonardo's circle during the High Renaissance. Both Luini and Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio were said to have worked with Leonardo directly; he…
- Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist
Salome with the head of John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Salome with the head of John the Baptist
Salome with John the Baptist's head
Salome with the head of Saint John the Baptist
Salome receives the Head of St. John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist
Salomé with the Head of John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist at Herodes table