Saint John the Baptist

Taddeo di Bartolo, the leading Sienese painter of the late 14th century, created this panel of Saint John the Baptist around 1390. The Baptist held particular importance in Sienese civic religion, and Taddeo painted him numerous times throughout his prolific career. Taddeo's workshop dominated Sienese painting from the 1380s through his death in 1422, producing altarpieces, fresco cycles, and devotional panels for patrons across Tuscany, Umbria, and Liguria.

Painted in egg tempera with gold ground on panel, the work displays Taddeo di Bartolo's characteristic robust figural style with strong, angular features and dramatic drapery patterns. The rich coloring and expressive intensity distinguish his approach from the more refined elegance of earlier Sienese masters like Simone Martini.