Hendrick de Somer

(Lochristi 1607 - Naples 1655)

Salome Receiving the Head of John the Baptist

Medium Oil on canvas

Dimension 49 ^3/4 x 40 ^2/5 in. (126.36 x 102.62 cm.)

Period 17th century

Origin Italy

Private Collection, Switzerland, for at least two generations.

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We would like to thank Professor Riccardo Lattuada for confirming the attribution of this painting to Hendrick de Somer on the basis of high-resolution digital images.

The early creative period of Hendrick de Somer in Naples from 1622 was recently examined, cf. Porzio, Giovanni: La scuola di Ribera. Naples, 2014, pp. 92-116; Fig. 57-138, pp. 134-175).
The attribution of ... the present painting is based on stylistic parallels to these works, which are attributed to de Somer's earlier period (1625-30), such as the Adoration of the Shepherds (today in an unknown place), the work of the same name in Hatchlands Park, National Trust, or Christ before Pilate in a Neapolitan private collection (see Porzio, op.cit., fig. 60-61, p. 136; fig. 72, p. 143).

In these works, the Flemish master created interesting versions of compositions by his contemporaries Matthias Stom and Jusepe de Ribera. Lattuada points out that the composition of this work is closely related to that of Jusepe de Ribera on the same subject, which was offered at Sotheby's, New York on January 30, 2019 under lot 57.