The artwork titled “The Beheading of John the Baptist” was crafted by Filippo Lippi in 1465. This piece, executed in the medium of fresco, belongs to the Early Renaissance art movement and is categorized under the genre of religious painting.
The artwork vividly depicts the biblical scene of John the Baptist’s beheading. The composition is intense and dramatic, capturing the moment with solemnity and tension. On the left side of the composition, a figure is seen in the act of beheading John the Baptist, while another individual kneels in a posture of submission or sorrow. The right side features a group of onlookers and a richly dressed figure bearing the head of John the Baptist on a platter, symbolizing the tragic climax of this religious narrative. The fresco’s rich details, use of color, and arrangement of figures exemplify the stylistic characteristics of the Early Renaissance, emphasizing realism and the portrayal of human emotion.
