The martyrdom of St John the Baptist

Caravaggio - Beheading of St John the Baptist

The commemoration of the martyrdom of St John the Baptist reminds me of the most impressive painting of this scene in the Cathedral of St John’s in Valletta, a masterpiece by Caravaggio, housed in the Oratory adjacent to the main Cathedral. It is visited by thousands of visitors and tourists daily. It was recently restored between April 1997 and June 1998 when it was sent to the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence as the Comune di Firenze had offered to restore it. The painting was exhibited at the del Carmine church, Florence for an entire year, and was returned to Malta in June 1999. 

The signature of Caravaggio before and after the restoration

It is the only painting which was signed by Caravaggio, his signature seen in the trickle of blood coming from John’s decapitated head. His full name is Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Yet another painting, probably more graphic is that of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It is a shame to hear the story of the beheading of the Baptist, the result of a pretty dance by a young ballerina. What would a young girl ask for as a gift for her well-performed dance? A necklace, a diamond bracelet, pretty sandals for her feet, a silk dress....? Certainly not the head of a person she never met! But jealousy by her mother caused the death of a beloved saint, and today we honor him.

Tiepolo - Beheading of St John the Baptist