Plaque with Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, Pierre Courteys (I) (attributed to), c. 1550 - before 1591

Plaque with Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, Pierre Courteys (I) (attributed to), c. 1550 - before 1591

gild, h 18.4cm More details

As a reward for her sensual dance, Salome asked her stepfather, King Herod, to give her the head of John the Baptist. The executioner’s tense posture and distorted hand emphasizes the grizzly nature of his deed, as he hands over of the saint’s head.