Salomé with the Baptist's head, by Caravaggio (1607, c.)

Salomé with the Baptist's head, by Caravaggio (1607, c.)

Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da (1571-1610)

1607, c.

This work represents the biblical scene where Salome holds the decapitated head of Saint John the Baptist. In this painting by Caravaggio, Salomé is represented by a young woman holding his head on a tray in the center of the painting. To the right a young man appears looking at the Baptist's head and behind Salome an old woman appears. This representation is reminiscent of the Celestinesque themes, due to the presence of a young woman and a young man and an older woman.

Iconclass code: 73C13341 http://www.iconclass.org/rkd/73C13341/
"Salome with the head of John the Baptist on a dish" 

Royal Palace of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. 
Found on the National Heritage webpage (Spain):
https://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/colecciones-reales/pintura/salome-con-la-cabeza-del-bautista

Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20201223222423/https://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/colecciones-reales/pintura/salome-con-la-cabeza-del-bautista

Inventory Number: 10010026

Wikimedia Commons:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CaravaggioSalomeMadrid.jpg

Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20201223222634/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CaravaggioSalomeMadrid.jpg

Oil on canvas.
Dimensions: 116 × 140 cm