Head of Saint John the Baptist (one of a pair)

This stained glass panel shows the Head of Saint John the Baptist, a somber and striking image rendered with remarkable detail for its medium. The saint's face, framed by dark hair and a beard, is depicted with a serene yet distant expression, perhaps contemplating his fate. The artist, known as the Master of the View of Saint Gudula, created this piece around 1495, using colored, stained, and enameled glass to achieve a painterly effect. This work was originally part of a pair, likely adorning a church or chapel window, designed to inspire reflection and devotion in viewers. The intricate handling of light and shadow, especially around the eyes and cheekbones, gives the figure a sense of three-dimensionality, a testament to the skill involved in manipulating glass and pigment to create such a powerful image.