Contains disturbing content
Figure Studies
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Unknown Artist
A dramatic 18th-century chiaroscuro oil painting capturing a tense biblical moment by candlelight.
The Head of Saint John the Baptist
Edmond Van Hove
1879 · Oil Paint, Panel
A masterfully painted 19th-century academic study of the head of Saint John the Baptist, defined by dramatic chiaroscuro.
$129
For the selected configuration
From $129
6 frame sizes
Frame size
Frame color
Mount
Paper type
Glaze
Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)
Where it works
A grounded artwork with confident presence with warm, lived-in color — supports a polished room with depth.
- Often works in
- Library · Study · Dining Room
- Placement
- Works well when the wall can carry a broader statement
- Walls
- Benefits from light or mid-tone surroundings
- Color notes
- Charcoal black
About the piece
Painted in 1879 by Edmond Van Hove, this oil on panel work is a powerful exploration of light and shadow in the academic realist tradition. The depiction of the head of Saint John the Baptist on a charger utilizes deep tonal contrasts to create a somber, meditative atmosphere that commands visual attention.
More like this
Contains nudity
Dark Academia
Lord Byron on his Death-bed
Joseph Denis Odevaere
A solemn and heroic Neo-classical tribute to the Romantic poet Lord Byron, captured with masterful chiaroscuro lighting.
Contains disturbing content
Dark Academia
Head of Medusa
Peter Paul Rubens
A dramatic Baroque masterpiece by Peter Paul Rubens depicting the severed head of the mythological Gorgon.
Contains disturbing content
Figure Studies
Judith with the Head of Holofernes
Lorenzo Lippi
A dramatic Italian Baroque portrayal of the biblical heroine Judith in a moment of stoic triumph.
