John the Baptist Beheaded
1578
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1578
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
John the Baptist Beheaded is a 1578 ink by Léonard Gaultier, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a dark, dramatic scene. In the foreground, a man lies on the ground with his head in another person’s hands. A woman stands nearby, holding a platter with the head on it. Behind them, a fancy building with columns and statues looms. Notice the small, busy scenes carved into the walls—like people riding horses or a woman in a bath. The artist used lots of tiny lines to build up shadows and shapes. This style is called engraving.
