The Feast of Herod (Rubens)

The Feast of Herod
ArtistPeter Paul Rubens 
Yearc. 1636
Mediumoil paint, canvas
Dimensions208.00 cm (81.89 in) × 264.00 cm (103.94 in) × 5 cm (2.0 in)
LocationScottish National Gallery
CollectionNational Galleries of Scotland 
Accession no.NG 2193 
IdentifiersRKDimages ID: 292757
Art UK artwork ID: the-feast-of-herod-210646
Bildindex der Kunst und Architektur ID: 20420409

The Feast of Herod is a c.1635-1638 oil on canvas painting by Peter Paul Rubens, now in the National Galleries of Scotland, for which it was bought in 1958.[1]

It shows a scene from the Gospels in which Herodias' daughter received John the Baptist's head as a reward for her dancing.[2] The work was probably commissioned by patron and collector Gaspar Roomer and possibly helped introduce a neo-Venetian style to Naples which would have a major impact on the evolution of the city's own strand of Baroque painting.[3]

There are several versions of the subject, many copies by followers of Rubens.[4] This painting has been considered a later original and improved version, comprising thirteen figures and reducing the architectural background.

References

  1. ^ "Sir Peter Paul Rubens, The Feast of Herod". National Galleries. 19 March 2026.
  2. ^ "peterpaulrubens.net - The Feast of Herod".
  3. ^ Renato Ruotolo. "Roomer, Gaspar." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 21 Nov. 2013
  4. ^ Burchard, L. (1953). "Rubens' 'Feast of Herod' at Port Sunlight". The Burlington Magazine. 95 (609): 383–387.