The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist (1608) by Caravaggio. Its palette is led by bistre (#251c12, 69%) and dark brown (#46331c, 20%), with accents of pale gold and scarlet orange. Overall the canvas is dark, muted and warm.

Palette

#251c12 MG 219 bistre 69.2% of canvas
#46331c MG 169 dark brown 20.2% of canvas
#6c552f MG 184 umber 5.2% of canvas
#998046 MG 039 gold 2.7% of canvas
#d7bc7d MG 036 pale gold 1.9% of canvas
#d3632f MG 026 scarlet orange 0.7% of canvas

Color families

Black 61%, Brown 35%, Yellow 2%, Orange 0%, White 0%

Measurements

Lightness: 0.27
Contrast: 0.41
Vividness: 0.021
Warmth: +1.00
Complexity: 100 cells
Hue range: 0.27
Focus: 0.24

Details

Date: 1608
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 361.0 × 520.0 cm
Genre: religious art
Collection: St. John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

More by Caravaggio

Self-Portrait as Bacchus, 1595
Medusa, 1597
Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599
Supper at Emmaus, 1601
The Calling of Saint Matthew, 1609