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Saint John the Baptist was beheaded at Herodias's request, and his head was then presented to Salome on a charger (Matthew 14: 1-12). There is some evidence that Leonardo painted a 'Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger' while staying in Milan, and there are many Milanese pictures of the early 16th century of this subject which, like this one, may have been closely derived from Leonardo.
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN



