The Madrid Pass
- Prado Museum
- Royal Palace Madrid
- Panoramic Bus Tour of Madrid
+ 2 other top things to do
Exhibition
15 Feb 2022 — 30 Dec 2022
See one of the most important pieces from Philip IV's art collection, Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist by Caravaggio, in the Stucco Room of the Royal Palace of Madrid.
It depicts the moment when Salome displays the head of Saint John the Baptist on a silver platter. The saint has just been decapitated at the request of Salome's mother, Herodias, whom he had...
See one of the most important pieces from Philip IV's art collection, Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist by Caravaggio, in the Stucco Room of the Royal Palace of Madrid.
It depicts the moment when Salome displays the head of Saint John the Baptist on a silver platter. The saint has just been decapitated at the request of Salome's mother, Herodias, whom he had reproached for her dissolute life with Herod. The young woman glances at the spectator with restrained satisfaction, while an elderly maidservant looks on with a serious expression.
The work illustrates the powerful drama characteristic of the months the painter was forced to spend in exile in Naples after hurriedly fleeing from Rome. The figures are presented in an unbalanced arrangement, leaving an unsettling empty space on the left side, and their strong lighting emphasises their volume. The dramatic tension is heightened by the use of thick, laborious brushstrokes that convey a tactile impression of the textures. The faces of the two women, whose heads seem to emerge in opposite directions from the same body, denote youth and old age.
The painting came from the collection of García de Avellaneda, second Count of Castrillo and viceroy of Naples from 1653 to 1659, and is first recorded at the Alcázar in Madrid in 1666. It remained there until the building was destroyed by fire in 1734, subsequently passing through various royal sites.
1 option • from HK$132.27
Tiqets' choice
The Palace Caravaggio (Until 30 December 2022)
Sebastiao Salgado and the royal collections. (Until 4 September 2022)
Free cancellation option available for all tickets
Combine Royal Palace of Madrid with other Madrid favorites. Some things are better together.
The biggest royal residence in Europe is certainly a sight to behold, with over 3,000 stunning rooms and a collection of art that would rival some of the world's best art galleries. The palace's present-day use is to hold state ceremonies and it is open to the public on most days.
Friday | 10:00 - 19:00 |
Saturday | 10:00 - 19:00 |
Sunday | 10:00 - 16:00 |
Monday | 10:00 - 19:00 |
Tuesday | 10:00 - 19:00 |
Wednesday | 10:00 - 19:00 |
Thursday | 10:00 - 19:00 |