De onthoofding van Johannes de Doper 1667 - 1736

Giuseppe Nicola Nasini rendered "The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist" in pen and brown wash. In this solemn scene, the executioner raises his sword, poised to complete the grisly deed, while Salome receives the severed head on a platter. The symbol of the severed head carries immense weight throughout history, evoking themes of sacrifice, martyrdom, and the triumph of faith. Consider the myth of Medusa, whose gaze turned men to stone, or the countless depictions of Judith holding the head of Holofernes. These images tap into primal fears and desires, reflecting our complex relationship with power, violence, and the sacred. The presence of angels above, a common motif in such scenes, offers a glimpse of divine intervention and redemption, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, hope and salvation are possible. Like the ouroboros, this symbol reflects the cyclical progression of life, death, and rebirth, reminding us of the enduring power of the human spirit to transcend even the most brutal realities.