Saint John the Baptist is one of Leonardo da Vinci's last masterpieces, painted between about 1513 and 1516. Held at the Louvre Museum in Paris, the painting depicts the saint in half-length, enveloped in darkness, with an enigmatic expression and a faint smile. With his right hand raised, John points to the sky, alluding to the coming of Christ, while in his left he holds the slender cruciform staff, his traditional attribute. The warm light that models the body and face emerges from the dark background thanks to the extraordinary use of sfumato, Leonardo's distinctive technique, which creates soft transitions and atmospheric depth.
The work combines mysticism and sensuality, fusing spirituality and humanity in perfect balance. Saint John the Baptist represents a synthesis of Leonardo's research into light, form and the mystery of the human soul.
Unique quality material
Print on handmade Amalfi paper Sheet size: 29 x 42 cm (11.4 x 16.5 in) With frame: 31 x 44 cm (12.2 x 17.3 in) Material: artwork printed on very fine handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges Frame: light brown beech wood and wood pulp, handmade
How an Amalfi art print is made, what the frame is like, what museum glass is, how long shipping takes, and how returns work: we’ve gathered all the answers on a single page.
