Italian caravaggista school, XVII century.

Italian Caravaggista School, XVII century.

"Salome presenting the head of St. John the Baptist".
Oil on canvas.
Preserves original canvas.
Measurements: 108 x 159 cm; 129 x 181 cm (frame).

This work stands out for its narrative unity, since all the characters can be seen unified almost in the foreground and arranged as a frieze. In the left zone Salome carries the head of Saint John, while at the other end of the table Herod can be appreciated, with a dejected gesture with respect to the act that he has just allowed. It emphasizes the dramatism with which the scene is presented to the public, since all the characters are in profile in such a way that the spectator seems to be part of the scene and is located at the other end of the table. Herodias, wife of Herod Philip, scandalously married his half-brother, Herod Antipas, which provoked a war, since Herod Antipas had repudiated his previous wife, daughter of the Nabataean monarch. The attitude of the new marriage was very criticized by the people, since it was considered sinful, and one of those who most denounced it was John the Baptist, for which he was arrested, although Herod did not dare to execute him for fear of the popular anger. According to tradition, Salome, a woman of great beauty, danced for her stepfather, and he enthusiastically offered to grant her the prize she desired. Then the young woman asked, following her mother's instructions, for the Baptist's head, which was given to her "on a silver platter".

The model of our work has been present in several private collections with a poorly defined authorship. Most opinions place the attribution of the model to Carlo Sellito and Lionello Spada.