Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger 1495 - 1505

Aelbert Bouts's *Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger* from 1495-1505 depicts the severed head of the saint, a common theme in Early Netherlandish art. This small, circular oil painting, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, portrays John the Baptist with closed eyes, a reddish-brown beard, and a hint of a red collar, set against a gold background, with the detail of the texture of a wood panel visible. This poignant image emphasizes the sacrifice of John the Baptist.