Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist

Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist from 1615 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest shows Gentileschi treating another subject involving a woman and a severed head. Unlike Judith's heroic act, Salome's request is motivated by her mother's vengeance. Artemisia Gentileschi's powerfully direct treatment of female subjects—heroines, saints, and biblical figures depicted with unprecedented psychological force and physical credibility—makes her one of the most significant figures in the Baroque tradition.

The composition presents Salome with the Baptist's head on a charger with dramatic Caravaggist lighting. Gentileschi's handling of the contrast between the living woman and the dead head creates powerful visual and emotional tension.