Saint John the Baptist Prepared for Decapitation
- Medium
- Red chalk
- Dimensions
- 7 7/8 x 7 1/4 in. (20 x 18.42 cm) (sheet, irregular) 19 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (50.17 x 40.01 cm) (outer frame)
- Genre
- Drawings
Tags
Italy
About
In this exquisite red chalk rendering of John the Baptist, the artist (thought to be Mattia Preti) presents a poignant and highly personal interpretation of the prophet's final moments before his murder by beheading. Above all, the drawing emphasizes the saint's humanity and vulnerability in the face of an unspeakably heinous act of violence.
