The Feast of Herod and the Beheading of the Baptist
ca. 1330–35
Medium
Tempera on wood, gold ground, and silver
Dimensions
17 3/8 x 19 5/8 in. (44.1 x 49.8 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
Italian, Rimini
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.103
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Baronzio's *The Feast of Herod and Beheading of the Baptist (ca. 133–35) captivates with its vivid storytelling from Rimini's vibrant 14th-century art scene. This Italian painter, a leader of the Rimini school, crafted this small tempera panel (17⅜ × 19⅝ in.) on wood, employing a luxurious gold ground and accents—hallmarks of Gothic religious art that evoke divine splendor and heavenly light. The scene unfolds two pivotal moments from the New Testament: King Herod's lavish feast, where Salome dances to claim her deadly prize, ...