The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, *The Beheading of Saint the Baptist* is a mid-16th-century sculpture attributed to an unknown German artist, possibly from the Rhenish. Carved from honestone—a fine-grained, soapstone-like material prized for its smooth carvability—and partially gilded for a luxurious sheen, this 11-inch (29.8 cm) high piece captures the dramatic biblical scene with exquisite detail. Gifted by J. Pierpont Morgan 1917, it the intricate craftsmanship of Renaissance-era devotional art. The sculpture depicts the martyrdom of...