Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist

Artist: Bernardino Luini

Title: Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist

Date: early 16th century

Medium: oil on canvas 

Provenance: Musée du Louvre, Paris

Source: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4169793#mobileBookmark

Describe: a woman holding some type of water basin under a decapitated mans head, John the Baptist. The colors used are reds, greens, yellows, and brown tones. Each figure forms a triangular shape, the head with the basin and the woman's stance. The light is directed towards the people with a dark background.

Analyze: The value differs between the background and foreground. The light directs the eye to the human figures, with a black tone in the background to emphasize the people. Form is created by the illusion of 3d figures, the circular basin lead the eye toward the decapitated head. The balance is asymmetrical because the woman on the left creates weight that is heavier than just the head on the right.

Interpret: the viewers eye leads to the head of John the Baptist, I think it represents the persecution of Christians. It shows how after Jesus came and left, the Christians were punshed.  The darkness behind the figures and dark tones gives a mood of gloom.

Judge: the painting accurately shows what happened to Christians after the death of the Savior. The work is interesting in the shape and shading of the people. The meaning behind it is also accurately shown, through the sadness in the face of John and the nonchalant attitude of the woman receiving the head.