The artist is Surikov
The theme of the picture was the gospel legend about how the young Salome, who delighted the king Herod with her dance, demanded that the head of John the Baptist as a reward, according to her mother’s instruction,. Surikov depicts the moment when his head was brought on a dish, and Herodias looks at her with a triumph of satisfied revenge. The artist in the picture strives for a specific image of the situation. The scene is the room of the palace entering the terrace. In the depths, lamps, mirrors, caskets with jewelry are visible in the depths. Surikov seeks to characterize each image: Herodias, leaning on the knee, looks at the head of John gloatingly. Salome was conceived by the artist in contrast with his mother: Surikov interprets her young frivolous girl, in whom the vague consciousness of her evil suddenly awakens. The head of John was written with great expression. The sketch is one of the early academic compositions and was executed by the artist after a little more than two years since admission to the Academy.