Salomé Dancing Before the Head of St. John the Baptist
Moreau has often been associated with nineteenth-century French depictions of the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, especially after he produced his famous Symbolist painting Salome Dancing before Herod (UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angeles). This lovely watercolor, capturing the graceful, almost fairylike dance of Salome—who is enraptured by the music even in the presence of the gruesome decapitated head behind her—has often been associated with Moreau because of its subject matter. However, this vision of Salome as a young, almost childish girl in a simple, flouncy dress and floral headdress lacks the regal attitude of Moreau’s visions of her and casts doubt on a secure attribution to the artist.
Artwork Details
- Title: Salomé Dancing Before the Head of St. John the Baptist
- Artist: After? Gustave Moreau (French, Paris 1826–1898 Paris)
- Date: mid to late 19th century
- Medium: Graphite, watercolor and gouache on cream wove paper
- Dimensions: 9 13/16 × 7 1/16 in. (25 × 18 cm)
Framed: 21 1/4 × 16 1/4 in. (54 × 41.3 cm) - Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
- Object Number: 1975.1.673
- Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection
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Gustave Moreau
1887–1888
Gustave Moreau
ca. 1890–95
Gustave Moreau
ca. 1876
Gustave Moreau
1864
Camille Corot
1836
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