Salome Bearing the Head of St. John the Baptist (Painting)
From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia
Unknown copyist, after c. 1631 original by Guido Reni (1575-1642)
Oil on canvas
143.5 x 102.9 (56 ½ x 40 ½ inches)
Description: A three-quarter length portrait of Salome [1] (identified by Jefferson as Herodias) holding the head of John the Baptist on a large platter. She faces frontally with her head inclined to the right, wearing rich, oriental robes of blue and gold. On her head is a large white turban with gold trim. The hat and bodice of Salome’s robe are bejeweled, and she wears large pearl earrings. The bearded head of the Baptist is held before her and is displayed frontally to the viewer.
History: This painting was purchased by Thomas Jefferson in 1785 at the auction of the St. Severin collection in Paris. It hung in the upper tier of the Parlor at Monticello. When entering it in his own Catalogue of Paintings, Jefferson described this artwork as “Herodias bearing the head of St. John in a platter. A ¾ length of full size on canvas, copied from Simon Vouett, purchased from St. Severin’s collection, Catal. No.248 the subject Matt 14:11 Mark 6:2-8.” The painting that Jefferson purchased, however, was neither Simon Vouett’s Herodias nor a copy of it. It is instead a copy of Guido Reni’s version of the same subject, much known and admired during the eighteenth century, that hung in the Corsini Gallery in Rome.[2]
Reni’s painting is generally regarded as Salome, rather than her mother Herodias, due to the particular scene shown here, taken from the biblical story of the beheading of John the Baptist. In order to kill the prophet, jealous Herodias bade her daughter Salome to dance for the King Herod. The King was so entranced by her dance he offered to grant the girl any wish. At the request of her mother, Salome asked for the head of the Baptist, which was delivered to her on a platter.
Footnote
- ↑ Research Report No. 6-24 in Jefferson Library Collections Catalogue
- ↑ Stein, Worlds, 146.
