Herodias with the Head of Saint John the Baptist - Nicolas Bazin

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Nicolas Bazin, depicting the biblical scene of Herodias with the head of Saint John the Baptist.

This engraving by Nicolas Bazin depicts the biblical figure of Herodias holding the severed head of Saint John the Baptist upon a charger. Bazin, a French engraver active in Paris during the late seventeenth century, produced this work after a painting by Guido Reni. The composition focuses on the contrast between the calm, almost detached expression of Herodias and the heavy, lifeless features of the Baptist.

Bazin employs precise cross-hatching and varied line weights to render the textures of the subject. The drapery of the garments is handled with a sense of volume, while the background remains dark to push the figures forward. The turban worn by Herodias and the specific arrangement of the platter reflect the conventions of seventeenth-century religious art, which often sought to dramatise biblical narratives through chiaroscuro effects. The inscription at the base identifies the subject and provides the publication details for the print, noting its availability at the shop of Chereau le jeune in Paris.

As a printmaker, Bazin was known for his ability to translate the tonal qualities of oil paintings into the monochrome medium of the copperplate. This work is an example of the reproductive print culture that allowed images of famous paintings to circulate among a wider audience. The technical execution demonstrates the disciplined approach of the period, where the engraver aimed for clarity of form and a balanced distribution of light and shadow. The work remains a clear representation of the Baroque interest in themes of martyrdom and moral narrative, presented here with the formal restraint characteristic of French printmaking of the era.