1580
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist is a 1580 ink by Northern Italian 16th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a dramatic scene with a strong, muscular man holding a severed head by the hair. A woman in flowing robes reaches toward him, her face twisted in emotion. Around them, smaller figures with curly hair and draped clothes watch from the sides, some holding objects like a basket or a scroll. The artist used quick, confident lines to show muscle and fabric, with dark ink and light washes to add depth. The head’s expression is calm, while the woman’s body language screams tension. Next, look up technique: gouache to see how this white paint was used to highlight details.
This artist drew religious scenes in the late 1500s, blending chalk and ink to tell stories on paper.
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