Saint John the Baptist

Hans Baldung Grien

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a seated, full-body figure of a bearded man with exaggerated curly hair framing his face. He sits with his legs visible, draped in flowing robes that cover his torso and part of his legs, leaving his feet bare. His facial features are pronounced, including deep-set eyes and a full, curly beard. He holds a long, thin staff-like object in one hand while resting an open book in his lap with the other hand. A lamb is depicted resting in the folds of his robe. The man is set against a background with a radiating halo effect behind his head, creating a sense of illumination. The scene is filled with intricate details and textures.