The Execution of Saint John the Baptist
The Met
Artist: Ubaldo Gandolfi(Italian, San Matteo della Decima 1728–1781 Ravenna)
Date: ca. 1770
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 24 3/8 × 17 in. (61.9 × 43.2 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of European Paintings Gifts, 2014
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A bearded figure in clouds overlooks a man with a sword poised over another man.
Detailed Description
A vertical rectangular oil painting depicts a scene with multiple figures. In the upper section, a bearded, elderly man emerges from a swirling mass of light brown and white clouds. He wears a pink and light blue robe, with his arms outstretched and hands open. Several small, winged figures surround him, some looking down, others looking up. Below the clouds, the scene is darker, set within what appears to be a confined space. On the left, a muscular man stands, facing right, with his body angled towards the center. He has a dark beard, a white cloth draped over his left shoulder, green pants, and a red sash around his waist. A simple wreath adorns his head. He holds a curved, silver sword pointed downwards in his right hand. His bare feet are visible on the dark floor. To the right, a man lies on a raised stone block, partially covered by a flowing red cloth. He has a dark beard and looks upwards, his hands near his chest. A dark metal chain is visible on the side of the stone block. Several small winged figures are positioned around the man on the block, some looking at him, one holding a white flower. The background on the far left shows dark vertical and horizontal lines, suggesting bars or a window, while the upper right transitions into the cloud formation.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
