Head of St. John the Baptist

Juan de Juanes (1510-1579), copy by Andrea Solario
16th century, Oil on panel

This panel is modelled on a painting by Andrea Solario exhibited in the Louvre. It can be reasonably attributed to Juan de Juanes thanks to certain stylistic elements characteristic of Spanish painting, such as the meticulous use of thin glazes, showing Flemish influence, as well as similarities with the language of many artists of the Valencian school active in the early 16th century. The head is placed on a raised tray that rests on a wooden surface: the gold background makes the image appear more like an icon. Juan Vicente Macip, better known as Joan de Joanes, was Valencia's most famous Renaissance painter, called the 'second Raphael'. He devoted himself for the most part to paintings with religious subjects and created his first works together with his father Vincent Macip.