Feast of Herod with the Beheading of St John the Baptist

The painting "Feast of Herod with the Beheading of St. John the Baptist" by Bartholomeus Strobel the Younger is an expansive and captivating masterpiece housed at the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Measuring an impressive 2.80 x 9.52 meters, this work vividly portrays two significant moments from the biblical account of John the Baptist's death. The primary scene dramatically depicts the banquet where Salome presents John the Baptist's head to Herod. Meanwhile, a smaller, more intimate vignette illustrates the actual beheading.

What makes this painting particularly fascinating is Strobel's ingenious inclusion of contemporary figures from the Thirty Years' War, along with court personalities, seamlessly integrated into the scene with allegorical references to the turmoil in Silesia during that era. Keen observers will even notice the coat of arms from Strobel's hometown, featuring the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

There has been considerable debate regarding the identities of the people depicted in the painting. Some scholars suggest they represent various political and military leaders from across Europe. Strobel's distinctive style combines realistic portraits with idealized faces and expressive caricatures. The costumes are a diverse blend, incorporating French and Polish elements with a hint of fantasy.

The origins of this painting are somewhat obscure. There is no clear consensus on who commissioned it or the exact date of its creation. The work was definitively attributed to Strobel only in 1970, and this attribution is now widely accepted. Interestingly, another version of "Feast of Herod" in Munich is also attributed to Strobel. This version shares many similarities with the Prado painting, including its intricate composition and the presence of political and military figures.