“Salome with the Head of John the Baptist,” created by the renowned artist Caravaggio around 1607, is an oil painting on canvas that epitomizes the Baroque and Tenebrism art movements. Measuring 90.5 by 167 cm, this religious painting is currently housed in the National Gallery in London, UK.
The artwork portrays a dramatic and solemn scene from the biblical narrative, showcasing Caravaggio’s mastery of chiaroscuro. In the foreground stands Salome, who is depicted with a subtle expression of melancholy as she holds a platter presenting the severed head of John the Baptist. Accompanying her are an elderly woman, whose visage is marked with sorrow, and a muscular executioner, who gazes sternly forward, still gripping John’s head by the hair. The composition is dominated by stark contrasts between light and shadow, a characteristic hallmark of Tenebrism, drawing the viewer’s eyes inevitably to the ghastly and poignant focal point of the decapitated head. The somber tones and intense realism evoke a powerful sense of theatricality and poignancy, illustrating the profound emotional weight of the depicted moment.