Salome

Object Details

Artist

Henry Ossawa Tanner, born Pittsburgh, PA 1859-died Paris, France 1937

Luce Center Label

Salome stands out from Henry Ossawa Tanner's other religious images, which are more conservative than this provocative painting. Salome's demand for the head of John the Baptist is one of the most lurid stories in the Bible. She dances for her stepfather, who rewards her beauty by giving her the prophet’s head on a platter. Here, Tanner presented Salome in a revealing gown, emphasizing her sensuality. The yellow shape in the lower left of the image, marked with red paint, suggests the corpse of John the Baptist.

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jesse O. Tanner

ca. 1900

Object number

1983.95.207A

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

45 7/8 x 35 1/4 in. (116.5 x 89.4 cm.)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

On View

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, East Wing

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Religion\New Testament\Salome

Record ID

saam_1983.95.207A

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7a0a287e2-0364-41da-9e9a-76292b15c82b