Herodias is a painting by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy, created based on an event from the New Testament. The gospel describes a real historical character, a princess from the Herodian dynasty.

The painting Herodias by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy is a moment of terrible insight instead of the triumph of victory over the enemy

The heroine of the picture was married to her step-uncle, but divorced and married his brother, King Herod Antipas. According to Jewish traditions, such an act with a living spouse was considered a crime. John the Baptist openly reproached the ruler for violating the law, which angered the wayward woman. She persuaded the adult daughter Salome, who pleased the king with dances, to ask him for the head of her warg as a reward. The girl did just that, after which she took the “gift” to her parent.

Before us is a plump woman with a beautiful but hard face. She sits with her arms clasped around herself and stares fixedly at the terrible object. The posture indicates that she is uncomfortable. The gloating passed, giving way to numbness.

Kramskoy draws attention to the characters of the picture, operating with colors, which is typical for his work. The black hair of Herodias and John, together with the dark background, forms a diagonal, separating the upper right corner. It seems that darkness descends from there.

Name of the painting: “Herodias”.
Author: Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy (1837-1887).
Year of writing: 1884-1886.
Size: 142 x 118 cm.
Style: Realism, Mysticism.
Genre: Religious, Historical.
Technique: Oil painting.
Material: Canvas.
Location: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.

Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy is a Russian artist, a remarkable portrait painter of the 19th century.

Herodias is considered to be his unfinished work, but it is typical of the master’s style. Gravitating in painting towards an impressionistic display of feelings, the author created the image of a woman who succumbed to passion, but was struck by the awareness of her own act. At her whim, for a truthful denunciation, a person who won the love and respect of fellow citizens was executed.

The painting “Herodias” by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy is perceived by many as his dying confession. She conveys to the viewer a difficult truth: you can stay alive, but become dead in your soul, or you can die and keep a living, undefeated spirit. After the imminent death of the master, his work took its rightful place in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery, where it can be seen today.