John the Baptist Beheaded, AD 23 1685

"John the Baptist Beheaded, AD 23" is a 1685 etching by Jan Luyken, a Dutch artist known for his illustrations. The engraving depicts the gruesome moment of John the Baptist's execution, as a soldier carries his severed head on a platter. The scene is set within a prison, with the body of John laying chained to the ground. The work captures the dramatic and tragic nature of the biblical story, showcasing Luyken's skill in rendering detailed figures and a sense of dramatic tension.