Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Nicolaus Knupfer (Dutch, 1603–1655)
1645–1655
- Medium
- pen and brown ink, brown washes and white heightening (oxidized), over black chalk on antique laid paper; framing lines in pen and brown ink
- Dimensions
- Support: 50.3 x 38.7 cm (19 13/16 x 15 1/4 in.); Matted: 53 x 39.5 x 0.6 cm (20 7/8 x 15 9/16 x 1/4 in.); Image: 33.5 x 27.8 cm (13 3/16 x 10 15/16 in.)
- Genre
- Drawing
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
netherlands
About
The Utrecht artist Nicolaes Knupfer was known for depicting powerful women who outsmarted or overpowered men. This drawing, probably a study for a painting, depicts the New Testament story of Salome, who was granted a wish by King Herod after dancing for him. Encouraged by her mother, Herodias, Salome asked for the head of John the Baptist, against whom Herodias bore a grudge for objecting to her marriage to the king. The scene shows the theatrical moment after the beheading, when a stoic Salome holds a salver to receive the head.