Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist

oil on woodJacob Duck (Dutch, c. 1600–1667)/mid-1600s

Description

The colorful, exotic garments worn by the woman at the right demonstrate Jacob Duck’s skill in painting luxurious surfaces: she is Salome, daughter of Herodias. According to the New Testament, Herodias bore a grudge against John the Baptist, who condemned her marriage to Herod, ruler of Galilee and Perea. At a celebration dinner, Salome so charmed Herod with her dancing that he offered her anything she desired—and Herodias convinced Salome to demand John the Baptist’s head. Rather than depicting the actual execution, Duck focused on the executioner’s muscled physique as he departs the scene, turning to look at the viewer after having presented Salome with John’s severed head.

Provenance

(F. Muller, Amsterdam, sale H. I. A Raedt van Oldenbarnevelt et al., November 6 ff., 1900, no. 339 [fl. 280, to Valk]); Victor de Stuers (1858-1916, The Hague and Kasteel Wiersse, Vorden, The Netherlands); by descent to his daughter, Alice Jacqueline Hortense Julie Aurelie de Stuers (1895-1988), wife of W. E. Gatacre; Mrs. W. E. Gatacre, Jonkvrouwe de Stuers, Kasteel Wiersse, Vorden, Holland; (Christie’s, London, sale Mrs. W. E. Gatacre-Jonkvrouwe de Stuers, November 26, 1965, no. 42 [as by Hendrik Gerritsz Pot; 600 Gns., to Sokolow]); (Alan Jacobs Gallery, London); (Sotheby’s, London, sale December 6, 1972, no. 54 [as by Jacob Duck]); (The Arcade Gallery, London); Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin, Cleveland, by gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1975.

Dimensions

71 × 54.6 cm

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Movement / Period

European Painting and Sculpture

Accession No

1975.79

Official Citations

[The Cleveland Museum of Art Official Record][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of Jacob Duck (Dutch, c. 1600–1667)

European Painting and Sculpture • Netherlands • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

Continuous Discovery