19th century AD. A painted icon on a wooden base depicting the beheading of St John the Baptist; to the centre the figure of St John bent over, wearing a green robe, behind him the executioner with knife held above his head as if to strike; to the right an elaborate red palace with robed female figure of Salome standing in the doorway, holding the head of St John on a platter; above a radiate nimate bust, now lost; surrounded by a red border with an angle to the left, and nimbate saint to the right. 716 grams, 27 x 21.5cm (11 x 8 1/2"). From a London collection; acquired from North America in the 1980s. Fair condition; damaged to the centre