Feast of Herod 1539

Lucas Cranach the Elder painted "Feast of Herod" in oil on wood, capturing a chilling biblical scene. Cranach was a court painter and close to Martin Luther, so his work often reflects the religious and political tensions of the Reformation. Here, the severed head of John the Baptist is presented to King Herod and his stepdaughter Salome. What is fascinating is how Cranach frames Salome, her gaze averted, almost melancholic. The act of violence is made all the more unsettling by the seemingly indifferent reactions of the other diners. Cranach challenges us to consider the complex motivations and consequences of power, desire, and religious conviction. "Feast of Herod" is not just a historical depiction, but an invitation to contemplate the darker aspects of human nature, and how they play out in both the personal and political spheres.