Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist

Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist

Titles

Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist

[Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]

Herodias with the Head of St. John the Baptist on a Dish

[earlier catalogues, Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]

This painting, by Lucas Cranach the Elder is a sixteenth-century portrayal of Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist and is based on the Biblical story recorded in Mark 6:14-29. While the image appears morbid to many, one author has pointed out that beheadings like this are frequently

This painting, by Lucas Cranach the Elder is a sixteenth-century portrayal of Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist and is based on the Biblical story recorded in Mark 6:14-29. While the image appears morbid to many, one author has pointed out that beheadings like this are frequently seen in Cranach's oeuvre. A young girl in a lavish red dress with gold trimming stands against a stark black background. Ornate gold necklaces hang from her neck, and on her left index finger, a ring peeks through intricate slashed gloves. Her face has a smug expression as she holds a platter on which rests a man's severed head. As is often the case with the Old Masters, Cranach did not paint Salome in traditional Middle Eastern clothing, with which he would have been unfamiliar. Instead, he painted her as a contemporary German noblewoman, giving us a glimpse of the beautiful clothing of the time period.

[Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]
Handwritten expertise by M.J. Friedländer on the reverse of a photograph in his archive: 'Das umstehend / photographierte Bild / ist ein echtes, sehr / gut erhaltenes u. echt / signiertes Werk des / älteren Lucas Cranach / Max J. Friedländer / Berlin, d. 13. Febr. 1924'
[https://rkd.nl/explore/images/239408] (accessed 20.08.2018)

Production dates
1500 - 1549
about 1540

Production dates

1500 - 1549

[Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]

about 1540

[cda 2019]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 56.8 x 34.3 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 56.8 x 34.3 cm

  • Dimensioins including frame: 72.7 x 50.3 x 5.1 cm

  • [Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the top right: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing left.

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the top right: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing left.

  • [Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]

Inscriptions and Labels

none Reverse: - cradle, top: Exhibition Sticker: E. and A. Silberman Galleries /1014 Madison Avenue /New York 21, N.Y. …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • none

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse: - cradle, top: Exhibition Sticker: E. and A. Silberman Galleries /1014 Madison Avenue /New York 21, N.Y. / An Exhibition of Paintings [underlined] - E. and A./ Silberman Galleries, N.Y. / For the benefit of: The Research Fund of Art/ and Archaelogy, The Spanish Institute. /Oct. 12 - Nov. 1, 1955 /Catalogue No. 10 - L. Cranach the Elder, / 'Salome, with the Head of /St. John the Baptist'; Object Label: [P.]52.26.Si. /Bob Jones University /Collection /Greenville, South Carolina

    • cradle, bottom: Exhibition Sticker: Galerie des Beaux-Arts - BORDEAUX /EXPOSITION/ LA FEMME ET L'ARTISTE /DE BELLINI A PICASSO /22 Mai - 20 Septembre 1964 /Catalogue No 8 CRANACH /'Salome'

  • [Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, revised 2019]

Owner
Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, Greenville
Repository
Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, Greenville
Location
Greenville
CDA ID
US_bjumg_P-52-26
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/US_bjumg_P-52-26/

Provenance

Exhibitions

Treasure Island, San Francisco 1939
Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL, USA 1952
High Museum of Art - Atlanta, GA USA 1953
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, USA 1953
George Thomas Hunter Gallery of Art, Chattanooga, TN USA 1953
E. and A. Silberman Galleries, New York, NY, USA 1955
Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS USA 1958
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux, France 1964
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery AL, USA 1989
Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, Greenville, SC USA 2001
Frist Center - Nashville, TN USA 2012
Georgia Museum of Art - Athens, GA USA 2012
Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery, Greenville, SC USA 2015/2017

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Nashville 2011 12
AuthorTrinita Kennedy
TitleA Divine Light: Northern Renaissance Paintings from the Bob Jones Univesrity Museum & Gallery [Frist Center - Nashville, 9/9/2011 - 2/5/2012; Georgia Museum of Art - Athens, GA, 3/13/2012 - 7/31/2012]
Place of PublicationNashville
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Kennedy 2011 91-93 12 Fig. p. 90
AuthorTrinita Kennedy
TitleThe Intimacy of Northern Renaissance Paintings
Publicationin Trinita Kennedy, John Nolan, eds., A Divine Light: Northern Renaissance Paintings from the Bob Jones Univesrity Museum & Gallery [Frist Center - Nashville, 9/9/2011 - 2/5/2012; Georgia Museum of Art - Athens, GA, 3/13/2012 - 7/31/2012]
Place of PublicationNashville
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Greenville 2001 13
AuthorJohn Nolan, Stephen B. Jones, Donnalynn Hess
TitleJohn the Baptist & the Baroque Vision [Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery]
Place of PublicationGreenville
Year of Publication2001
Show Literature
Wright 1992 169
AuthorChristopher Wright
TitleThe World's Master Paintings. From the Early Renaissance to the Present Day. A comprehensive listing of works by 1300 painters and a complete guide to their locations worldwide
Place of PublicationLondon
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Eisler 1988
AuthorColin T. Eisler
TitleBob Jones University Collection of Sacred Art
Publicationin Margaret Lynne Ausfeld, ed., American Art Museums: An Introduction to Looking [Museum of Fine Arts (Montgomery), 18 Sept. 1988 - 5 Feb. 1989]
Place of PublicationMontgomery
Year of Publication1988
Pages27-29
Show Literature
Bokman 1980 24-29
AuthorWilfred Bokman
TitleScientific analysis. More to a painting than meets the eye
JournalJournal of the Canadian Conservation Institute
IssueVol. 4
Year of Publication1980
Show Literature
Spaeth 1975 396
AuthorEloise Spaeth
TitleAmerican Art Museums: An Introduction to Looking
Place of PublicationNew York
Year of Publication1975
Show Literature
Hope 1965 160 Fig. 19
AuthorHenry R. Hope
TitleThe Bob Jones University Collection of Religious Art
JournalArt Journal
IssueVol. 25, no. 2
Year of Publication1965
Pages154-162
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Bordeaux 1964 7 8 Pl. 8
AuthorGilberte Martin-Méry
TitleLa Femme et l'artiste: de Bellini à Picasso, [Bordeaux, Galerie des Beaux-Arts, May 22 - September 20, 1964]
Place of PublicationBordeaux
Year of Publication1964
Show Literature
Cat. Greenville 1962 198, 244-245
AuthorGeorges Marlier
TitleThe Bob Jones University Collection of Religious Paintings (vol. 2)
Place of PublicationGreenville
Year of Publication1962
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Kansas 1958
EditorThe University of Kansas Museum of Art
TitleThirtieth Anniversary Celebration - Masterworks from University and College Art Collections - An Exhibition of works ar art lent by forty-two American Colleges and Universities to Celebrate the Anniversary of the Museum of Art
Place of PublicationKansas
Year of Publication1958
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. New York 1955 22 10 Fig.
EditorE. and A. Silberman Galleries
TitleAn Exhibition of Paintings. E. and A. Silberman Galleries. For the benefit of The Research Fund of Art and Archaeology, The Spanish Institute
Year of Publication1955
Show Literature
The New York Times 1955
Authorn. a.
TitleAbout Art and Artists
JournalThe New York Times
Issue10/13/1955
Year of Publication1955
Show Literature
The New Yorker 1955
Authorn. a.
JournalThe New Yorker
Issue10/22/1955
Year of Publication1955
Show Literature
Cat. Greenville 1954 86-87
AuthorHans Tietze, Erika Tietze-Conrat
TitleThe Bob Jones University Collection of Religious Paintings
Place of PublicationGreenville/South Carolina
Year of Publication1954
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Birmingham AL 1953 3
EditorBirmingham Museum of Art
TitleNorthern European Masters Exhibition in four cities [Birmingham Museum of Art]
Place of PublicationBirmingham AL
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Guth 1953
AuthorPaul Guth
TitleLucas Cranach
JournalConnaissance des Art - Le Guide
Issue4/15/1953
Year of Publication1953
Pages38-45
Show Literature
Birmingham News 1952
Authorn. a.
TitleFine Arts: Birmingham First City in South for Art
JournalBirmingham News
Place of PublicationGreenville
Issue12/7/1952
Year of Publication1952
Show Literature
Cat. Greenville 1952
EditorBob Jones University Museum & Gallery, Greenville
TitleSelected Paintings from the Bob Jones University Collection of Sacred Art
Place of PublicationGreenville
Year of Publication1952
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. San Francisco 1940 11 136
EditorPalace of Fine Arts
TitleGate International Exposition ART
Place of PublicationSan Francisco
Year of Publication1940
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. San Francisco 1939 11 136
AuthorWalter Heil
TitleArchitectural models; miniature rooms by Mrs. James Ward Thorne. Golden Gate International Exposition
Place of Publication[San Francisco]
Year of Publication1939
Show Literature
Neuhaus 1939
AuthorEugen Neuhaus
TitleThe art of Treasure island, by Eugen Neuhaus; first hand impressions of thearchitecture, sculpture, landscape design, color effects, mural decorations, illumination, International Exposition of 1939
Place of Publication[?]
Year of Publication1939
Show Literature
Auct. Cat. New York 1918 A 43 Fig.
AuthorF. Kleinberger Galleries, New York
EditorAmerican Art Association
TitleCatalogue of Ancient Paintings, F. Kleinberger Galleries, New York, Jan. 23, 1918
Place of PublicationNew York
Year of Publication1918
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 159
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

According to a handwritten expertise by M.J. Friedländer on the back of a photograph in his photo archive: 'Das umstehend / photographierte Bild / ist ein echtes, sehr / gut erhaltenes u. echt / signiertes Werk des / älteren Lucas Cranach / Max J. Friedländer / Berlin, d. 13. Febr. 1924'; according to a handwritten note (not by M.J. Friedländer) on the back of a photograph in his photo archive: '?' 'Fred J. Stanton New Y. II. 47.'

[rkd online, accessed 23.08.2023]

  • Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist, 1500 - 1549

Images

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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/US_bjumg_P-52-26/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Salome with the Head of St. John the Baptist', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/US_bjumg_P-52-26/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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