1618
oil
canvas
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
Dominant colour
Salome with the Head of St John the Baptist is a 1618 oil by Guido Reni, a Early Baroque Italian work, depicting Beheaded Head, held at Ashmolean Museum.
This painting shows a woman holding a platter with a man's severed head. The woman is dressed in a long, flowing gown and a turban, and she looks directly at the viewer with a neutral expression. The man's head is turned slightly to the side, and his eyes are closed. The woman's clothing and the man's head are rendered in muted colors, while the background of the painting is dark and shadowy. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, as if the woman is lost in thought as she gazes at the viewer. If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this painting, you might want to look up Guido Reni.
Guido Reni was an Italian Baroque painter, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne.
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