Eugene Delacroix, Death of John the Baptist, 1858

Eugene Delacroix learned how to paint in an interesting way. He was self taught by traveling to the Louvre in Paris and copying famed work. The amount of work that he created during his lifetime well exceeds 3,000 pieces, including Death of St. John The Baptist. The setting of this painting was to be about the beheading of St. John the Baptist  The Gospel of Luke states that the birth Jesus was announced by the angel Gabriel, and John's mother was but three months from giving birth to John.

St. John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod Antipas. Herod imprisoned John because John criticized Herod for divorcing Phasaelis, his wife, along with stealing Herodias, Herod's sister in law. A party was thrown in celebration for Herod's birthday. Herodias' daughter, Salome, entertained the king and his guests by dancing in front of them. Through Herod's drunkeness, he promised Salome one thing that he wished for, and he said he would fulfill it. It was then that her mother, Herodias, told her daughter to ask for the head of St. John. Herod agreed to this request and followed up his promise by executing John.