Salome and the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, oil on slate 17th century

Painting on stone (slate), 17th century: Salome and the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, Italian school

Technique: Oil on slate
Period: 17th century
Dimensions: 36 x 48 cm

Oil on slate, a rare and refined support highly valued in the 17th century for its ability to enhance dramatic effects and accentuate contrasts of light and shadow. The black stone, with its dark background, perfectly suits a subject as intense as Salome and the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, amplifying the theatrical tension of the scene.

At the center of the composition, two standing figures dominate the scene: Salome and the executioner, embodying a striking contrast between beauty and elegance on one side and physical brutality on the other. Salome, young and refined, is dressed in luxurious early 17th-century fashion, with richly decorated fabrics that highlight her delicate, almost ethereal presence. Her face appears detached, indifferent to the violence unfolding before her—a characteristic often found in Caravaggesque compositions. Beside her, the executioner, with a muscular and imposing physique, represents the harsh reality of the act, in stark opposition to the spiritual nature of Saint John the Baptist’s martyrdom.

On either side of the scene, older figures observe the execution with solemn expressions. To the right, a figure draped in a large ochre-colored mantle, reminiscent of philosopher portraits in early 17th-century painting, watches pensively, adding a contemplative dimension to the narrative. This detail enhances the contrast between the transience of earthly power and the spiritual endurance of the martyr.

The dark background and intense chiaroscuro heighten the dramatic tension, while the refined beauty of Salome and the raw physicality of the executioner intensify the dissonance between aesthetic grace and brutal violence. The limited color palette, dominated by earthy tones and deep shadows, is characteristic of the naturalistic style of 17th-century Italian painting.

The painting has undergone restoration on the stone, preserving its original structure. This work reflects the 17th-century taste for precious materials and compositions of great emotional impact, aligning with the Italian tradition influenced by naturalism and the interplay of beauty, violence, and spirituality.