Gustave Moreau, Salome Dancing before Herod, 1874-76. Oil on canvas; 56 1/2 x 41 1/16 in. (143.5 x 104.3 cm). The Armand Hammer Collection; Gift of the Armand Hammer Foundation, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. Photo: Robert Wedemeyer.
The art of Gustave Moreau—born on this day in 1826—stands apart from that of his realist and impressionist contemporaries in nineteenth-century France, particularly in the mystical and enigmatic quality of his paintings of biblical and mythological subjects. He is considered an important precursor to the symbolist and surrealist movements, and his students included Henri Matisse and Georges Rouault.
Now on view: http://bit.ly/1VxifK8
Lunchtime Art Talks: Gustave Moreau
Her porcelain skin is draped in jewels and rich clothing with intricate designs as her head is bowed to the seated figure of Herod. Walking into the ovular maroon gallery where this magnificent piece of art stands tall in the center of the room, one cannot help but gravitate towards this amalgamation of architecture, richness, and immense detail. Salome Dancing Before Herod (1874-76), is a work by the French Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau, and one of the best-known paintings in the Hammer’s Permanent Collection. Museum visitors stroll through the gallery and closely observe the thousands of details in the painting. Cynthia Burlingham, Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs, leads this Lunchtime Art Talk with an in-depth knowledge of Moreau's oeuvre. She progresses throughout the room following the visible progression of Moreau's works. The exhibition, A Strange Magic: Gustave Moreau's Salome, shows the majority of the sixty drawings Moreau completed of Salome before the conception of the final piece. Together, the drawings and the painting capture the essence of Moreau's artistic process in creating Salome Dancing Before Herod. Burlingham discusses the intricacy of all of his works and shows how Salome became progressively more feminine and beautiful as the six-year-long piece culminated. She speaks of how out of over 8,000 works by Moreau, Salome is one of the most emblematic of ultimate beauty and sensuality. Above the gallery in gold is written "On Herod's birthday Salome danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptiste.’ The request was granted."-Jonaki Mehta, UCLA student, Hammer Communications intern