The Decapitation of St John the Baptist c. 1750s - 1760s

Johann Georg Trautmann rendered this scene of "The Decapitation of St. John the Baptist" with oil on copper in the mid-18th century. At this time, copper was not an unusual material for smaller paintings, yet it has a distinct effect, allowing for a high degree of detail and a certain luminosity, which you can see especially in the highlights of the fabrics and skin. The artist was very skilled in building up these effects, contrasting the burnished metal with the dark shadows of the prison interior. The executioner’s labor is evident in the tautness of his muscles as he brandishes the sword, as well as in the macabre presentation of the severed head. And yet, the real work of the painting is the artist’s, whose refined skills are here deployed to capture a moment of extreme violence. The painting is a reminder that while we often prize the subject matter or narrative of art, it is always grounded in material choices and techniques, which require their own kind of labor and skill.