Salome the Daughter of Herodias is known from the New Testament and Christian traditions have always depicted her as an icon of dangerous female seductiveness, particularly after her erotic dance mentioned in the New Testament which latterly has been transformed into the dance of the seven veils, or her lighthearted and cold foolishness that, according to the gospels, led to John the Baptist's death.
‘But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatsoever she would ask of him. But she being instructed before by her mother, said: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Baptist. And the king was struck sad: yet because of his oath, and for them that sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
And his head was brought in a dish: and it was given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body, and buried it, and came and told Jesus. (Matt 14:6-11, D-R)
The Munich artist Franz von Stuck when he wished to emphasise the immoral and seductive character of Salome not unnaturally chose to adorn her with a few large well chosen pearls.
Since then it seems that in depicting Salome’s wickedness the rule is the more pearls the better.
Salome even captured Oscar Wilde’s imagination and his retelling of the Bible story of Salome, who danced before Herod to win the death of John the Baptist, was considered so depraved that the High Lord Chamberlain of England refused to grant it a license for public performance—and in the wake of Wilde's scandalous exposure as a homosexual and his subsequent imprisonment, all of Wilde's plays were swept from the stage. Wilde, who died in 1900, never saw his play publicly performed. Some of the illustration from the original publication by Aubrey Beardsley, however are now collector’s items.
Since then all kinds of people have jumped in on the act including my favourite perfumist Coco Chanel.
Housewifes have even posted themselves on the web seeking to emulate Salome.
Here are a few more different depictions of Salome to whet your appetite:
5 comments:
Eyes, pearls and chains! What more could a girl ask for?
Salome was a piece of work, wasn't she?
A very rude piece I am reliably informed.
That doesn't make her a bad person
I need to get myself down the National Gallery. Another great series Saffy.
The depiction with those eyes! The accessories are inspiring as well. The depiction just below her is quite riveting also.
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