St. John the Baptist 1614

Juan Bautista Maíno painted "St. John the Baptist" on a small copper plate, capturing John in the wilderness. The lamb at his side is more than a pastoral detail; it's the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. This motif echoes through time, from ancient pagan offerings to its adoption in Christian iconography. Think of the sacrificial lamb in early Roman art, reborn here with a profound shift in meaning. Now, it represents not earthly appeasement, but divine redemption. The lamb in this context speaks to a deep, subconscious yearning for purity and forgiveness. Note how Maíno renders John’s gentle touch, a tender gesture toward the animal. The collective memory of sacrifice and salvation is condensed in this image, an emotional and psychological force. It's a powerful reminder of how symbols evolve, carrying the weight of history while acquiring new emotional resonances.