Décolation de St. Jean (Beheading of Saint John the Baptist)

François-Philippe Charpentier, after Nikolaus Knüpfer (formerly after Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, called Guercino)

National Gallery of Art

The image shows several individuals in a dramatic scene. A woman stands in the center holding a platter, with detailed features, an elaborate headdress, and a voluminous dress. Next to her, a figure supports her from behind while another kneels on the ground. A semi-nude man is contorted and a severed head lies nearby. In the background, a soldier in armor stands holding a spear near an archway. The scene is sketched in chiaroscuro style, depicting an interior with arched doors.