Gregorio Preti, 1603 Taverna, Catanzaro – 1672... Lot n° 329

Brother of Mattia Preti (1613-1699).Salome with the head of John the Baptist Oil on canvas. Doubled. 97 x 132,5 cm. In gilded profile frame. Attached expertise of Prof. Riccardo Lattuada. In large format Salome is shown as the figure dominating the picture scene, with feather-adorned head and velum waving around her, in her hands a wide bowl, in it the head of John the Baptist, which she presents to her mother. (†) Literature: Cf. Johan T. Spike, Gregorio Preti. I Dipinti, I Documenti, Florence, 2003. Cf. Giuseppe Porzio, Per una rivalutazione di Gregorio Preti, in Art Italies, 18, 2012, pp. 39-45. Note: The trigger for the drama described here is recounted in the Gospels of Matthew (14:1-9) and Mark (6:17-25): John the Baptist had publicly accused King Herod Antipas of adultery when he married his sister-in-law Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod Boethos. To put an end to the accusations, Herod had the Baptist summarily imprisoned, but did not dare to kill him because the people saw in him a prophet. Meanwhile, Herodias, the adulteress who had also been humiliated, pursued a murderous plan. When the king gave a great buffet on the occasion of his birthday, Herodias made her daughter Salome dance before him, so that he, quite enraptured by the seductive performance of his stepdaughter, wanted to grant her every wish. Instigated by her mother, Salome demanded the head of John the Baptist. (1330512) (13) Gregorio Preti, 1603 Taverna, Catanzaro - 1672 Rome, attributed Brother of Mattia Preti (1613 - 1699). SALOME WITH THE HEAD OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST Oil on canvas. Relined. 97 x 132.5 cm. Accompanied by expert's report by Prof Riccardo Lattuada. (†) Literature: cf. T. Spike, Gregorio Preti: I Dipinti, I Documenti, Taverna, 2003. cf. G. Porzio, Per una rivalutazione di Gregorio Preti, in: Art Italies, no. 18, 2012, pp. 39-45.