Head of John the Baptist

anonymous, c. 1500 - c. 1560

At the request of his stepdaughter Salome, Herod ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. She was given his head on a platter. This macabre theme – often called Johannes in disco (John on a plate) – is represented here. The platter, however, is missing. The deathly pale alabaster, the open mouth and tongue and the deep-set eye sockets reinforce the harsh realism.

  • Artwork typeJohannesschotel
  • Object numberBK-1998-1
  • Dimensionsheight 26.7 cm x width 21 cm, weight 13.4 kg
  • Physical characteristicsalbaster

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Head of John the Baptist
    • Head of St John the Baptist

  • Object type

  • Object number

    BK-1998-1

  • Description

    Een hoofd van Johannes de Doper, van albast, met geloken ogen en opengevallen mond; behorend bij een Johannesschotel.

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    • sculptor: anonymous, Southern Netherlands (possibly)
    • sculptor: anonymous, Northern France (possibly) [rejected attribution]

  • Dating

    c. 1500 - c. 1560

  • Search further with

Material and technique

  • Physical description

    albaster

  • Dimensions

    • height 26.7 cm x width 21 cm
    • weight 13.4 kg

This work is about

  • Subject

Exhibitions

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Purchased with the support of the Rijksmuseum Fonds

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1998

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; collection Leopold Blumka (1898-1973), New York, date unknown:{Written communication Anthony Blumka, New York, 21 May 1998.} his wife, Ruth Blumka (1920-1994), New York, 1973; sale, collection Blumka, New York (Sotheby’s), 9-10 January 1996, no. 82, $118,000, to the dealer Daniel Katz, London; from whom, on loan to the museum, 1997-March 1998;{Note RMA.} from whom, £120,000 (fl. 392,760), to the museum, with the support of the Rijksmuseum Fonds, March 1998

Documentation

    • Theo Schoemaker, 'Een hoofd van Johannes de Doper', Rijksmuseum Kunstkrant, 24 (1998) juli-augustus, p.20, afb. p. 21.
    • 'Recent acquisitions at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam', The Burlington Magazine (November 2000), p. 730 met afb. IV.
    • Documentatiemap BK
    • Hoofd van Johannes de Doper laatste kwart 15e eeuw, in: Jaarverslag 1997 Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, p. 30, afb. p. 31.

Persistent URL

Questions?

Do you spot a mistake? Or do you have information about the object? Let us know!
  • Head of John the Baptist
  • Head of John the Baptist
  • Head of John the Baptist
  • Head of John the Baptist