Circle of Annibale Carracci, 'Saint John the Baptist seated in the Wilderness', early 17th century. London, The National Gallery.

Saints: Saint John the Baptist

John was the prophet who preached the coming of Christ as the Messiah. He was related to Jesus through his mother Saint Elizabeth, cousin of the Virgin Mary.

John preached in the desert, baptising in the river Jordan those who repented their sins. Jesus came to be baptised, and was revealed as the Son of God; this was the most important act of John's life.

John criticised King Herod for taking his half-brother's wife, Herodias, as his queen. When Herodias' daughter, Salome, danced for Herod she so pleased him that he agreed to grant her anything that she wanted. At her mother's prompting she asked for the head of John the Baptist. Herod kept his promise and ordered John to be beheaded.

John the Baptist is depicted here with his attribute of a reed cross. He is also often shown wearing camel skins, and with a lamb, referring to his recognition of Christ as the 'Lamb of God'.

Artists frequently depict him as a child with the Virgin and Infant Christ, as an ascetic in the desert or baptising people in the river Jordan. He is also shown being beheaded, or his head being presented on a silver platter.

See Also

• Andrea del Sarto, 'The Madonna and Child with Saint Elizabeth and Saint John the Baptist'
• Raphael, 'Saint John the Baptist Preaching'
• Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 'Salome receives the Head of Saint John the Baptist'

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