Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
around 1525/30 | Bernardino Luini
The biblical subject of Salome was especially popular among artists that were part of Leonardo’s circle in Milan. Instead of the bloody plot, here the dreadful episode is presented using psychological means: facing the viewer in a half-length portrait, Luini’s Salome proffers us the head of the Baptist on a plate. There is effective contrast between the saint’s noble head, the mysterious “Leonardian” smile of the beautiful woman and the henchman’s grimace.
The biblical subject of Salome was especially popular among artists that were part of Leonardo’s circle in Milan. Instead of the bloody plot, here the dreadful episode is presented using psychological means: facing the viewer in a half-length portrait, Luini’s Salome proffers us the head of the Baptist on a plate. There is effective contrast between the saint’s noble head, the mysterious “Leonardian” smile of the beautiful woman and the henchman’s grimace.
Artist:
Bernardino Luini (um 1460 Luino - 1532 Mailand) DNB
Time:
around 1525/30
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, Lombard
Material/technology:
Poplar wood
Dimensions:
links und rechts je 1 cm, oben 3 cm angestückt: Overall: 55,7 cm × 42,5 cm × 3 cm
Framed: 70,7 cm × 59,5 cm × 6,5 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 190
Provenance
Coll. Leopold Wilhelm