The Feast of Herod

In the pillared banqueting hall opening to the garden, Herod and Herodias are talking, seated at the table under a red canopy. They have evidently not yet noticed the gruesome scene that is about to put an abrupt end to the musical performance and horrify the assembled guests. Salome, elegant in a simple, floor-length dress, approaches the table, and presents the head of John the Baptist on a platter. His lifeless gaze is directed at the company.

Translated catalogue text from:
Ducke Astrid: Katalog. In: Astrid Ducke: Der Kuss der Musen. Festspiele göttlicher Inspiration. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2020, S. 25–89, Johann Heinrich Schönfeld, Umkreis, Gastmahl der Herodias, S. 73, Abb. 63, S. 68

Translation: Gail Schamberger MA, Salzburg