Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger by Aelbert Bouts, oil on wood, 1600-25. This grisly depiction of John the Baptist's severed head was once an extremely popular image, due to the saint's growing cult in the Middle Ages. Since John was considered to be Christ's forerunner and herald, his execution was interpreted as a metaphor for the latter's crucifixion. This panel is one of more than twenty versions which were produced through the transfer of the design from a common workshop pattern in the circles of Dieric Bouts and his son Aelbert. The mimetic potential of oil painting is used here to create the illusion of a real head on a real platter. According to the Synoptic Gospels, Herod had imprisoned John the Baptist because he reproved Herod for divorcing his wife (Phasaelis) and unlawfully taking Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip I. On Herod's birthday, Herodias's daughter (traditionally named Salome) danced before the king and his guests. Her dancing pleased Herod so much that in his drunkenness he promised to give her anything she desired, up to half of his kingdom. When the daughter asked her mother what she should request, she was told to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Although Herod was appalled by the request, he reluctantly agreed and had John executed in the prison.