Salomé Dancing Before the Head of St. John the Baptist

Today's masterpiece shows a story from the New Testament. The woman we see is Salome, the daughter of Herodias, who danced before King Herod and so enchanted him that he promised to grant her any wish. At her mother’s urging, she asked for the head of John the Baptist, who had condemned Herodias’s marriage to Herod. Reluctantly, Herod fulfilled the request, and John was beheaded.

This watercolor is now attributed to Gustave Moreau, but with some doubts. Moreau is frequently linked to 19th-century French depictions of the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. This delicate watercolor is portraying Salome in a graceful, almost ethereal dance—seemingly entranced by the music despite the grisly presence of the severed head behind her. This interpretation of Salome as a youthful, almost childlike figure dressed in a simple, flouncy gown with a floral headdress, however, differs markedly from Moreau’s more regal and enigmatic portrayals. The absence of his characteristic grandeur and psychological intensity in this depiction raises questions about the certainty of the attribution.

Anyway, it is a very beautiful watercolor. What do you think about it? Write down your thoughts and check out our free online course for some tips on how to look at art and really see it!  :) 

P.S. The Bible is one of the most popular sources of inspiration for artists. Can you guess which biblical scenes inspired these paintings? Take our quiz and find out!