Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist
- Artist: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
- Date: about 1609-10
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
"Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. This is a late work, probably painted towards the end of his life in Naples, around 1609-10. The story's been reduced to its essentials, focusing on the human tragedy and emotional power through a restricted range of colour and dramatic gesture.
In this scene, Salome holds a salver with John the Baptist's head, placed there by the brutish executioner. Salome's expression is serious, her glance sidelong - it's not clear if she's turning away in disgust or shame at what she's brought about. The elderly maidservant beside her clasps her hands in grief.
The composition appears simple but hides a sophisticated interplay between the main protagonists. Caravaggio uses chiaroscuro and dramatic gestures to convey the scene's emotional power, creating a sense of tension and tragedy."
See it in person
Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
