Bidspirit auction | Neapolitan or Sevillian Master -

Neapolitan or Sevillian Master - 17th Century - Head of Saint John the Baptist - Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 53 x 77 cm. The decapitated head of Saint John the Baptist rests on a metal tray in a shadowy space permeated by dramatic lighting that highlights the face and its mournful features. The half-open eyes and half-open mouth reinforce the idea of ​​recent martyrdom. A phylactery waves from a reed diagonally across the scene, bearing the inscription ”Ecce Agnus Dei.” The dark background and contrasting lighting intensify the scene's pathos. The brushwork is loose and expressive, especially in the fleshy features of the face. This work belongs to the Circle of Llanos y Valdés and is part of the Tenebrist aesthetic of the second half of the 17th century, which emphasizes the drama and spirituality of the image. The straightforward composition, with almost no contextual narration, accentuates the symbolic meaning of the decapitation as a testimony of faith.