The artwork, titled “Beheading of St. John the Baptist,” was created by the artist Peter Paul Rubens between 1609 and 1610. Belonging to the Baroque art movement, this religious painting portrays a significant biblical event. Currently, the artwork is held within a private collection.
The painting depicts the somber and violent moment of St. John the Baptist’s beheading. In the foreground, the lifeless body of St. John lies prostrate, with his severed head being presented to Salome, who is traditionally known to have requested it at her mother Herodias’s behest. The executioner, standing with muscular prominence, brandishes the sword used in the act, while his demeanor seems to portray a mix of duty and remorse. Other figures, including what appears to be Herodias, are portrayed reacting to the event. The rich coloration, use of light and shadow, and the intense emotional expressions of the figures are characteristic of Rubens’ Baroque style, emphasizing the drama of the scene.
