Salome with the Head of John

Dominating the scene, the sumptuously dressed Salome points at the head of the Baptist which, still dripping with blood, is being placed in a marble vessel by a henchman. The sphinx which functions as a table leg hints at the character of the beautiful, cruel protagonist. Leonardo‘s achievements in terms of technical artistry – the toned-down bright colours, the painting of light and darkness, and the sfumato (blurring of contours) are re-interpreted by Sesto: the body and objects glow against a dark background in bright, silvery-shimmering colours, the precision of which recalls the Old Dutch masters.