Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness 

Felice Albites made this pen and brown ink drawing, Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness, sometime between 1778 and 1811. The image presents John the Baptist not as an ascetic zealot, but as a figure in harmony with the natural world. He sits in a classical pose, draped, and with a halo, embodying a kind of serene strength. This choice by Albites reflects the complex relationship between religious identity, classical ideals, and the burgeoning Romantic movement, which saw nature as a source of spiritual truth. Notice how Albites uses the wilderness to frame Saint John's identity; the natural world isn't just a backdrop, but an active participant in defining his sanctity. The lion behind him is a traditional attribute of the Saint, referencing the idea of the Saint as a protector, and is rendered here as tamed by the Baptist's holiness. Albites seems to ask: What does it mean to be faithful, and how does one's environment shape that experience?