St. John the Baptist | Leonardo da Vinci | 1513-16

In this enigmatic final painting by Leonardo da Vinci, Saint John the Baptist emerges from a dark, undefined background, his form illuminated by a soft, almost supernatural light. With his right arm raised and finger pointing upward, he alludes to the heavens and the coming of Christ—a gesture loaded with spiritual significance. His faint smile and ambiguous expression echo the famous sfumato technique Leonardo mastered, giving the saint a mysterious, almost androgynous aura that has fascinated scholars for centuries.

Unlike traditional depictions of the Baptist as a rugged ascetic, Leonardo presents him with flowing curls, delicate features, and a sensuality that blurs the line between the divine and the human. The figure's subtle eroticism has sparked debates about Leonardo’s intentions and worldview, particularly in his final years when he was deeply immersed in philosophical and theological studies. This painting, created in Rome shortly before his death, seems to merge spirituality with a profound meditation on beauty and the transcendence of the human form.