Matthias Grünewald, Issenheim Altarpiece (detail of St. John the Baptist), 1512-1516, oil on wood panel, Unterlinden Museum, Colmar

John, the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, was the cousin of Jesus and was born about six months before him. He lived as a hermit, and baptized people--including Jesus--in a river. He was later beheaded by King Herod at the will of Salome.

Aside from his traditional attributes, he can also be recognized in a variety of scenes: meeting his young cousin as a baby, living as a hermit in the wilderness, baptizing Christ, and being beheaded (his head on a platter is frequently depicted in images with Salome as well).