Salome with Head of John the Baptist, Pieter Cornelisz. van Rijck

Exhibition Label: "Corpus," Apr-2012, Kris Ercums The biblical tale of Salome has been depicted throughout the history of art. This version emphasizes Salome’s willing sacrifice for her family. According to legend, John the Baptist rebuked King Herod for marrying Herodias, who was formerly married to Herod’s brother. Enraged by John’s criticism, Herodias involved her daughter, Salome, in a scheme to destroy him. When Salome pleased Herod by dancing at a banquet, he swore to grant her any wish. Herodias persuaded her daughter to ask Herod for John’s head, and the king reluctantly fulfilled his promise. However in this painting, an image on Salome’s medallion suggests an alternative version of the story in which Salome desires John, who is then executed by Herod out of jealously. Label 2009: John the Baptist rebuked King Herod for marrying Herodias, who was formerly married to Herod’s brother. Enraged by John’s criticism, Herodias involved her daughter, Salome, in a scheme to destroy him. When Salome pleased Herod by dancing at a banquet, he swore to grant her any wish. Herodias persuaded her daughter to ask Herod for John’s head, and the king reluctantly fulfilled his promise. Van Rijck portrays Salome grasping a gold dish into which her ghoulish accomplice has delivered John’s newly severed head. Salome reveals, perhaps, her hidden repulsion by turning her own head slightly away from John’s. The erotic image on her medallion suggests another version of the story in which Salome desires John, who is then executed by Herod out of jealousy. Salome’s serene facial expression recalls many images by Leonardo da Vinci, while her shadowy cohort appears derived from Leonardo’s studies of grotesques. Archive Label 1999: John the Baptist rebuked King Herod for marrying Herodias, who was formerly married to Herod's brother. Enraged by John's criticism, Herodias involved her daughter, Salome, in a scheme to destroy him. When Salome pleased Herod by dancing at a banquet, he swore to grant her any wish. Herodias persuaded her daughter to ask Herod for John's head, and the king reluctantly fulfilled his promise. Van Rijck portrays Salome grasping a gold dish into which her ghoulish accomplice has delivered John's newly severed head. Salome reveals, perhaps, her hidden repulsion by turning her own head slightly away from John's. The erotic image on her medallion suggests another version of the story in which Salome desires John, who is then executed by Herod out of jealousy. Salome's serene facial expression recalls many images by Leonardo da Vinci, while her shadowy cohort appears derived from Leonardo's studies of grotesques. However, the bejeweled contemporary fabrics and Salome's courtly elegance are characteristics of later 16th-century interests.