Artwork
Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. The oil painting depicts a woman dressed in elaborate attire, clutching a wrapped bundle that partially reveals a concealed face.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depiction of John the Baptist's head underscores themes of martyrdom and the consequences of political intrigue within the biblical narrative.
The painting shows Salome holding the severed head of Saint John the Baptist, a moment drawn from the New Testament story in which she requests the Baptist's head as a reward for her dance. Her pose and the presentation of the head emphasize the dramatic tension of obedience to a step‑father's promise and the execution of a prophet. The work is classified as religious art and was created in 1750 using oil on canvas, measuring 118.5 cm by 94.9 cm. It is part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
The iconography includes a pearl necklace and a pearl, symbols often associated with purity and the innocence of the Virgin, contrasting with the violent act of beheading. The depiction of John the Baptist's head underscores themes of martyrdom and the consequences of political intrigue within the biblical narrative.
The composition reflects the Baroque emphasis on emotional intensity and chiaroscuro, highlighting Salome's complex role as both seductress and instrument of divine retribution.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. Created in 1750, it functions as a copy after a painting by Carlo Dolci. The composition depicts Salome holding the beheaded head of John the Baptist, accompanied by a pearl necklace and individual pearls. The piece measures 118.5 cm in height and 94.9 cm in width.
History & Provenance
Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist is a copy after a painting by Carlo Dolci, dated to 1750. The work was executed in oil on canvas, measuring approximately 118.5 cm high by 94.9 cm wide. As a religious painting, it portrays Salome holding the severed head of John the Baptist, adorned with a pearl necklace.
It has been part of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston’s collection, where it remains today. The available sources do not record any earlier ownership, commission, or additional provenance details.
Overview
The oil painting depicts a woman dressed in elaborate attire, clutching a wrapped bundle that partially reveals a concealed face. She is adorned with a pearl necklace and a prominent brooch, while dark drapery falls around her shoulders. The composition centers on the tension between the figure’s poised elegance and the ominous suggestion of the hidden head within the bundle.
Artist & collection
- Salome with the head of St. John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of 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 St John the Baptist
Salome with the Head of St John the Baptist
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist
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
