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Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Nikolaus Knüpferc. 1650
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
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.
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Details
- Title: Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
- Creator: Nicolaus Knupfer (Dutch, 1603-1655)
- Date Created: c. 1650
- Physical Dimensions: Sheet: 33.4 x 27.9 cm (13 1/8 x 11 in.)
- Provenance: Christie's, Paris, France, Private Collection, Amsterdam, Netherlands, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Type: Drawing
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/2019.8
- 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
- Fun Fact: The stoic Salome in this drawing awaits the head of John the Baptist so that she can deliver it to King Herod on a salver.
- Department: Drawings
- Culture: Netherlands, 17th century
- Credit Line: John L. Severance Fund
- Collection: DR - Dutch
- Accession Number: 2019.8
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