Beheaded Collection (#2)

Satomi Jirotaro Yoshinari Inspecting a Head Carried by a Dog, 1867. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Satomi Jirotaro Yoshinari Inspecting a Head Carried by a Dog, 1867. Series: Beauty and Valor in the Novel Suikoden

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, early 1650s. Creator: Bernardo Cavallino
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, early 1650s. Additional Info: This biblical story is set in the time of the Babylonian siege of Judea

Battle Scene, 16th century. Creator: Unknown
Battle Scene, 16th century

Vishnu Vanquishing the Demons Madhu and Kaitabha (recto).. c1775. Creator: Unknown
Vishnu Vanquishing the Demons Madhu and Kaitabha (recto), Folio from a Devimahatmya (Glory of the Goddess), c1775

The Goddess Ambika Leads the Mother Goddesses in Battle (recto); Text (verso)... early 18th century Creator: Unknown
The Goddess Ambika Leads the Mother Goddesses in Battle (recto); Text (verso); Folio from a Devimahatmya (Glory of the Goddess), early 18th century

Heads of Two Foxes Decapitated for Too Much Merrymaking, c1875. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Heads of Two Foxes Decapitated for Too Much Merrymaking, c1875. From The Postal News, no. 628

Manuscript of the Jawahir al-ghara'ib tarjumat Bahr al-'aja'ib (image 3 of 3), 1582/A.H. 990

Count William III of Holland Permitting the Beheading of His Bailiff, 1607. Creator: Willem van Swanenburg
Count William III of Holland Permitting the Beheading of His Bailiff, 1607. From Thronus Justitiae, pl. 7

Salome, c1896. Creator: Wilhelm Volz
Salome, c1896. Volume, number, page: 2, no. 3 (1896); following page 184

Perseus Killing Medusa, published 1606. Creators: Antonio Tempesta, Wilhelm Janson
Perseus Killing Medusa, published 1606. From The Metamorphoses of Ovid, pl. 41

Tokugawa Ieyasu Examining the Head of Kimura Shigenari at the Battle of Osaka Castle, 1875. From Brief Account of the Rulers of the Tokugawa Clan

Mirror of Our Country's Heroes, Yamamoto Kansuke Haruyuki, Published in 1858. Creator: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Mirror of Our Country's Heroes, Yamamoto Kansuke Haruyuki, Published in 1858

David Beheading Goliath, between circa 1520 and circa 1527. Creators: Ugo da Carpi, Raphael
David Beheading Goliath, between circa 1520 and circa 1527

Judith with the Head of Holophernes, between circa 1535 and circa 1540. Creator: Rosso Fiorentino
Judith with the Head of Holophernes, between circa 1535 and circa 1540

Sacrificial Scene, between 1596 and 1674. Creator: Leonard Bramer
Sacrificial Scene, between 1596 and 1674

Ikkaku: The One-Horned Immortal, Late 18th century. Creator: Unknown
Ikkaku: The One-Horned Immortal, Late 18th century

Decapitation of a saint (St Catherine?), 1600-1650. Creator: François Perrier
Decapitation of a saint (St Catherine?), 1600-1650

The Beheading of Saint Paul, Originally modelled 1643-1647; this example before 1753. Creator: Vincenzo Foggini
The Beheading of Saint Paul, Originally modelled 1643-1647; this example before 1753

Decapitated Woman's Head, 19th century. Creator: Unknown
Decapitated Woman's Head, 19th century

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, between 1570 and 1615. Creator: Cherubino Alberti
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, between 1570 and 1615

In the Presence of Almanzor, Gonzalo Gustos Identifies the Severed Heads of His Sons, 1612. Creator: Antonio Tempesta
In the Presence of Almanzor, Gonzalo Gustos Identifies the Severed Heads of His Sons, 1612. From The History of the Seven Sons of Lara, pl. 31

Claudius Civilis Arrested and His Brother Paulus Beheaded, 1611. Creator: Antonio Tempesta
Claudius Civilis Arrested and His Brother Paulus Beheaded, 1611. From The War of the Romans Against the Batavians, pl. 3

Bizhan Brings Back the Head of Human, Page from a Manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings), c1494. Creator: Unknown
Bizhan Brings Back the Head of Human, Page from a Manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings), c1494

The Legend of the Baker of Eekloo, 1550-1650. Creator: Unknown
The Legend of the Baker of Eekloo, 1550-1650

Judith with the head of Holofernes, 1752-1819. Creator: Juriaan Andriessen
Judith with the head of Holofernes, 1752-1819

The Arminian Serpent, 1710-1720. Creator: Anon
The Arminian Serpent, 1710-1720. Snake with severed head bearing the portrait of Oldenbarnevelt. On the body of the snake 13 circles with portraits of the conspirators against Prince Maurits

Alice, Lady Lisle, 1648. Creator: John Hoskins the younger
Alice, Lady Lisle, 1648

Maron in Baglen, 1829. Creator: Anon
Maron in Baglen, 1829. This drawing bears rare visual witness to the atrocities committed by the troops under Dutch command during the Java War (1825-1830)

Judith and Holofernes, 1659. Creator: Jan de Bray
Judith and Holofernes, 1659

Saul Welcoming David after his Victory over Goliath, 1640. Creator: Gerrit de Wet
Saul Welcoming David after his Victory over Goliath, 1640

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 1725-1824. Creator: Dionisio Calvaert
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 1725-1824

Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, 1524. Creator: Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, 1524

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, c.1497-c.1500. Creator: Sandro Botticelli
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, c.1497-c.1500

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 1500-1539. Creator: Pordenone
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 1500-1539

John the Baptist's Head on Charger, n.d. Creator: Samuel Shelley
John the Baptist's Head on Charger, n.d

Soldiers Discovering the Body of Holofernes, c. 1550. Creator: Master Of The Liechtenstein Adoration
Soldiers Discovering the Body of Holofernes, c. 1550

Willem III, Count of Holland, Ordering the Beheadal of the Bailiff of Zuid Holland, 1336, 1620-1649
Willem III, Count of Holland, Count of Holland, Ordering the Beheadal of the Bailiff of Zuid Holland, 1336, 1620-1649

Still Life with Pig's Head, Pig's Knuckles and Sausage, 1600-1650. Creator: Monogrammist JVR
Still Life with Pig's Head, Pig's Knuckles and Sausage, 1600-1650

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 16th century. Creator: Massys (Matsys), Jan (1510-1575)
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 16th century. Found in the collection of the Musee du Louvre, Paris

The Triumph of David, 1826. Creator: Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
The Triumph of David, 1826

The Feast of Herod. Salome Bringing the Head of St John the Baptist on a Charger, 1600-1699. Creator: Peter Paul Rubens
The Feast of Herod. Salome Bringing the Head of St John the Baptist on a Charger, 1600-1699

Vomilas sculptures, 1932 June. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Vomilas sculptures, 1932 June

The Decapitation of St John the Baptist, 1548-1551. Creator: Jacopo Bassano il vecchio
The Decapitation of St John the Baptist, 1548-1551

The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara, c. 1450. Creator: Master ES
The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara, c. 1450

Esquisse pour l'église Saint-Merri : Prédication de saint Denis et conversion des... 1873
Esquisse pour l'eglise Saint-Merri : Predication de saint Denis et conversion des Gaulois. Decollation de saint Denis. Christ en croix. Saint Rustique et saint Eleuthere. 1873

Esquisse pour l'église Saint-Merri : Résurrection et Apothéose de saint Denis, 1873. Creator: Henri Leopold Levy
Esquisse pour l'eglise Saint-Merri : Resurrection et Apotheose de saint Denis, 1873. Resurrection and Apotheosis of Saint Denis

Esquisse pour l'église Saint-Bernard-de-la-Chapelle : Sainte Denis prêchant. Martyre... 1866
Esquisse pour l'eglise Saint-Bernard-de-la-Chapelle : Sainte Denis prechant. Martyre de Saint Denis et de ses compagnons, Saint Rustique et Saint Eleuthere, 1866

Beheading of the Roman Judge Papinian, 1606. Creator: Willem van Swanenburg
Beheading of the Roman Judge Papinian, 1606

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"Decapitated: A Glimpse into the Dark History of Beheadings" Step into a world where heads roll and power is severed. From Gustav Klimt's haunting depiction of Judith to Artemisia Gentileschi's fierce portrayal of Judith and Holofernes, beheading has long held a macabre fascination. Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII's tumultuous relationship echoes through time, their tragic end forever marked by the executioner's blade. The likes of Justin Martyr, Lord Lovat, Countess of Salisbury, James Duke Monmouth also met this gruesome fate. Even South American cannibals in the 16th century embraced decapitation as part of their rituals, reminding us that such acts transcend cultures. St. Denis holding his own head with angelic guardians on the Virgin portal sends shivers down our spines. Intriguingly, Queen Margaret placing a paper crown on the head of the Duke of York captures an eerie blend between symbolism and reality. Was it an 18th-century creation or an authentic glimpse into history? The Horsemen of the Apocalypse ride forth with death wielding its scythe - beheading being one method to claim souls. And who can forget Catherine Howard's miniature portrait capturing her doomed destiny? Beheaded - a word that evokes fear and fascination alike; it reveals humanity at its darkest moments when power clashes with mortality. These glimpses into history remind us that even in our modern age, we are captivated by these tales from yesteryears' blood-soaked pages.