Artwork
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bernardo Strozzi. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The image serves as a visual narration of the New Testament account, where Salome presents the martyr's head to her mother, Herodias.
Bernardo Strozzi's 1635 oil painting depicts the biblical figure Salome holding the severed head of John the Baptist. As a work of religious art, the composition focuses on the moment following the execution ordered by Herod Antipas. The image serves as a visual narration of the New Testament account, where Salome presents the martyr's head to her mother, Herodias.
The iconography centers on the juxtaposition of the young woman and the gruesome trophy, a common motif in Baroque religious painting intended to evoke contemplation on martyrdom and the consequences of royal decadence.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, reflecting Strozzi's characteristic use of richly layered oil pigments to achieve deep chiaroscuro and tactile surface texture. The composition emphasizes the dramatic moment of Salome presenting the severed head of Saint John the Baptist, rendered with naturalistic modeling and a restrained palette that heightens emotional intensity. Brushwork varies from fine detail in the figure's face to broader, expressive strokes in the drapery, creating a sense of immediacy and physical presence.
The painting's handling of light and shadow contributes to its sculptural three-dimensionality, aligning with the Baroque emphasis on dynamic realism.
History & Provenance
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist is an oil painting on canvas by Bernardo Strozzi, dated 1635. The work is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains located. The sources document the painting's creation date and current institutional ownership but do not provide information on its original commission, earlier ownership, or the chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum.
The painting is held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, where it is inventoried as oil on canvas, measuring 129 cm in height and 103 cm in width.
It was painted in 1635 by Bernardo Strozzi and depicts the biblical scene of Salome with the head of St John the Baptist within the museum’s collection.
Overview
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist is a 1635 oil painting by Italian Baroque artist Bernardo Strozzi. Created during his early career, the work exemplifies the Italian Baroque style of the time.
Context
The subject of Salome and St John the Baptist was a common narrative in Baroque art, often used to explore dramatic and emotional themes within a religious framework.
Legacy
As part of Strozzi's oeuvre, the painting contributes to the broader legacy of Italian Baroque, reflecting the style's emphasis on emotional depth and visual drama.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardo Strozzi, named il Cappuccino and il Prete Genovese (c. 1581 – 2 August 1644), was an Italian Baroque artist who was a painter and engraver. A canvas and fresco artist, his wide subject range included history,…
- Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Salome with 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 receives the Head of St. John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Salome with the head of 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