Plaquette met Salomé met het hoofd van Johannes de Doper

About this artwork

hoogte 18,4 cm (maat met ophangoog helemaal uitgelegd) x hoogte 17,6 cm (maat van lijst zelf) x breedte 24,8 cm x dikte 1,9 cm

Art Historical Context

This gilded plaquette by Pierre Courteys I captures the dramatic biblical moment when Salome presents the severed head of John the Baptist. Created between around 1550 and 1591, the work reflects the refined tastes of the French Renaissance. Courteys, a noted Limoges enamel artist, brought delicate detail and expressive storytelling to small-scale decorative objects like this one. Measuring roughly 18.4 centimeters in height, the plaquette was likely intended for private devotion or display in a cabinet of curiosities. Its gilded surface would have shimmered under candlelight, enhancing the narrative’s intensity. The compact format allowed collectors to appreciate fine craftsmanship up close, a hallmark of sixteenth-century luxury arts. Courteys’s treatment of the subject blends religious narrative with elegant ornament, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of faith and sacrifice. Such plaquettes served both as devotional reminders and as sophisticated conversation pieces in Renaissance homes.