Moreau (40) Gustave Moreau (1826-1898)

Description of Gustave Moreau’s painting "Salome

Gustave Moreau’s canvas depicts the fragile beauty Solomea dancing in a light, gold-embroidered dress for the despotic, spiteful and jealous King Herod. Her curved figure, with her hand raised in a commanding gesture, evokes the desire to follow her will, which not even the king himself was rescued from.

The composition is impressive with many colorful small details, which the artist drew with some special persistence, thanks to which they turned out very realistic.

The palace, which looks more like a medieval Catholic cathedral, which is not typical for that era, is depicted with high vaulted ceilings. The walls are reminiscent of colorfully decorated cathedral ledges, and the floor is covered with a gorgeous red Persian carpet, which seems to have become slightly shabby from the countless festivities and guests.

Moreau himself in almost all his paintings practiced a mixture of styles in one canvas, this painting was also no exception, so that gives the impression that this palace may still be somewhere in France, Assyria or Venice.

In history, Salome is mentioned at the death of John the Baptist, thus she is a real character who played her part in the death of the son of God. Salome’s dance caused admiration, for which Herod granted her one absolute wish; the dancer chose a dish with the Baptist’s head. What was left for the king to do? To fulfill the promise made to the beautiful but treacherous dancer. It is noteworthy that Solomei on this canvas looks more like a resident of the non-Far East than the image of the Gospel legends.