Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
after Bernardino Luini (Luini, Lake Maggiore c.1480 – ? Lugano 1532)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1500 - 1599
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
515 x 640 mm
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 609080
Caption
Having danced for her step-father, King Herod, Salome is granted anything she might desire. Her mother, Herodias, tells her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist, for he had condemned Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. The original of this picture is now in the Prado, Madrid. It was documented in the collection of Charles II of Spain in 1700. It differs in various ways from the Attingham copy, primarily because Herodias, here on the left, has been omitted. There is also a copy in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. All these versions show Salome in different costumes. Luini, also a fresco painter, was much influenced by Leonardo, and derived many of his facial types and compositions from him.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist after Bernardino Luini (Luini, Lake Maggiore c.1480 – ? Lugano 1532), 16th century. A group of three figures, half length, central figure of Salome wearing embroidered red gown and holding gadrooned bowl below the head of John the Baptist. This painting depicts the biblical story from the book of Matthew, when Salome, who has danced for King Herod, is offered anything she wishes. Her mother, Herodias, had asked her to request the head of John the Baptist, which she does. The King, bound by his promise, fulfilled her wish.
Provenance
In 1847 inventory and thence by descent until bequeathed to the National Trust in 1947 with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.
Credit line
Attingham Park, The Berwick Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Ld Berwick no frame (label on reverse)
Makers and roles
after Bernardino Luini (Luini, Lake Maggiore c.1480 – ? Lugano 1532), artist
References
Dix 1847 David Edmund Dix, A Catalogue of Paintings and Engravings Attingham. [Signed and dated] David Edmund Dix. 8th Decr 1847, [p.8]