# Head of John the Baptist

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/head-of-john-the-baptist-r688bfafc2316be>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [UNKNOWN MASTER, Flemish](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1>)
- Date: 1451-1500
- Technique: Alabaster, height 27 cm

## Commentary

In the middle ages, sculpted heads of John the Baptist were most commonly found on the church altars of northern Europe. Said to possess miraculous qualities for the treatment of headaches and other ailments these heads were venerated by believers as an important object of religious devotion. The alabaster head shown in the picture belongs to this tradition in late medieval imagery. It was sculpted in the Southern Netherlands or Northern France.

## Related artworks

- [A Young Witch](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/a-young-witch-ref481dee7f30d0>)
- [Adam and Eve](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adam-and-eve-r68a8bf252ed72e>)
- [Adam and Eve](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adam-and-eve-ra2e5d495a44270>)
- [Adam and Eve](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adam-and-eve-reeb721e28be128>)
- [Adoration of the Magi \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-detail-r9fb82125f11169>)
- [Adoration of the Magi \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-detail-ra78db0b1b4ddab>)
- [Adoration of the Magi \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-detail-rc076dd58dd543a>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-r02acb13ac18e75>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-r385c3854171021>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-r51e96748641bee>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-r5feb8ca8970336>)
- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/unknown-master-flemish-r352cb7184742a1/adoration-of-the-magi-r7e88cc266a8f64>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)