Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist
ca. 1507–9
Medium
Oil on wood
Dimensions
22 1/2 x 18 1/2 in. (57.2 x 47 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
Accession Number
32.100.81
Tags
Art Historical Context
Andrea Solario's *Salome with the of Saint John the Baptist* (ca. 1507–9) captures a dramatic biblical moment from the New Testament, where Salome the severed head of John the Baptist on a platter her fateful dance for King Herod. Painted in oil on wood—a favored medium of the early Renaissance for its smooth surface and luminous effects—this intimate panel (22½ × 18½ in.) reflects the Milanese artist's deep influence from Leonardo da Vinci, evident in the soft modeling of faces and rich, atmospheric modeling. Solario, a leading figure in the Lombard school, blends Northern Italian precision ...