Artwork
Enthauptung Johannes des Täufers
Enthauptung Johannes des Täufers is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jost Haller. It dates from 1465 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Overview
Enthauptung Johannes des Täufers is a 1465 painting by Jost Haller, a Gothic painter from Alsace active during the Northern Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the beheading of John the Baptist, a biblical scene. A woman holds the severed head, while a man stands beside her, sword in hand, grasping the victim's hair. The decapitated figure lies on the ground, set against a muted outdoor backdrop with a tree.
Technique & Style
Haller's use of chiaroscuro creates a dramatic effect, emphasizing the central figures. The palette is subdued, with grays and browns dominating, contributing to the overall somber mood.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Haller by art historian Charles Sterling in 1980, the painting is now part of the Alte Pinakothek's collection. Haller's work was previously largely anonymous, with some pieces attributed to 'Le peintre des chevaliers' due to his frequent depiction of knights.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jost Haller was a 15th-century Gothic painter from Alsace, active in the years 1440–1470, first established in Strasbourg, then in Metz, and in Saarbrücken.
The Martyrdom of St. Barbara
Fall of Christ during the Flagellation
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Die Geißelung und Dornenkrönung Christi
Salome with the head of Saint John the Baptist
A Surgeon Operating on a Peasant
Herod's feast
Judith with the Head of Holophernes
Judith with the head of Holofernes
Judith with the Head of Holofernes
A Surgeon Operating on a Peasant
Judith with the head of Holofernes and a servant