St. John the Baptist
1650s
Guercino’s sketch captures a young John the Baptist taking a breather in the wilderness, looking surprisingly cherubic with his wild, curly hair. He clutches his trademark reed cross and a scrolling banner—likely his famous 'Ecce Agnus Dei' proclamation—while sitting next to a simple bowl. The artist uses rapid, scratchy ink lines to create a sense of energy and texture, proving that even religious studies from the 1650s can feel alive, spontaneous, and full of Baroque drama.