The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Caravaggio · 1608
Why it's great
In a dark prison courtyard, an executioner is about to finish the job while a jailer points and two prisoners watch. Caravaggio painted it in 1608 in Malta, and it is the only painting he ever signed, in the blood.
Where to see it
📍 St. John's Co-CathedralValletta, Malta
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Caravaggio was an Italian painter born in 1571, whose real name was Michelangelo Merisi. He painted dramatic scenes lit by a strong beam of light with deep shadows and used ordinary people as models. He had a violent temper, had to flee Rome after a fight, and died in 1610.
