The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

work by Caravaggio

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June 22, 2026

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"The Beheading of St. John" is a notable work by the Italian painter Caravaggio, created in the early 1600s. The painting depicts the biblical event where St. John the Baptist was executed. According to scripture, John was imprisoned by Herod Antipas for criticizing his marriage. Herod's stepdaughter, Salome, requested John's head, which Herod then granted. Caravaggio was known for his dramatic use of light and shadow, a technique called chiaroscuro, and his realistic portrayal of figures, often capturing moments of intense emotion. This painting is one of his most recognized pieces.123

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Caravaggio
Naples, Malta, Sicily, Naples, Porto Ercole: 1606–10
…largest of all his paintings, The Beheading of St. John, for the oratory of the conventual church, now cocathedral, of Valletta in Malta. The painting was to be accepted in lieu of his passaggio, the payment due from any knight on entering the order. It shows St. John’s gruesome beheading…
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…largest of all his paintings, The Beheading of St. John, for the oratory of the conventual church, now cocathedral, of Valletta in Malta. The painting was to be accepted in lieu of his passaggio, the payment due from any knight on entering the order. It shows St. John’s gruesome beheading…
Read More