Gospel in Art: The beheading of John the Baptist

The Feast of Herod, by Rubens,1635-38, © National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 3 February 2023
Mark 6:14-29

King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well known. Some were saying, 'John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.' Others said, 'He is Elijah'; others again, 'He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.' But when Herod heard this he said, 'It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead.'

Now it was this same Herod who had sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, 'It is against the law for you to have your brother's wife.' As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

An opportunity came on Herod's birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, 'Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.' And he swore her an oath, 'I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.' She went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?' She replied, 'The head of John the Baptist.' The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, 'I want you to give me John the Baptist's head, here and now, on a dish.' The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John's head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John's disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Reflection on the Painting

The scene described in vivid detail in today' Gospel reading is one that has inspired artists throughout the centuries. The sumptuous, lavish banquet in Herod's palace for his birthday turns out to be a banquet of death. Mark the evangelist directly follows this scene with the feeding by Jesus of the multitude. It is as if Mark wants to set Herod's banquet of death in stark contrast to Jesus' banquet of life.

One such vivid, rather gruesome depiction of Herod's banquet of death is this painting by Rubens. At first glance it seems to portray a happy gathering: a joyful party full of dynamism, delicious food, shining silver and colour. Closer inspection however reveals a horrible scene. On his birthday Herod Antipas told his stepdaughter she could have anything she wanted. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist, who happened to be downstairs in the dungeons for criticising Herod's marriage to Herodias. The stepdaughter gets her way and we see her presenting the head to Herod. Herodias cruelly takes a fork and prods John's tongue with it. Herod moves back in horror. All figures are painted in 17th-century dress, which would have made the viewers during Rubens' time connect even more with the scene.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-6-14-29-2023/