Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een schilderij door Rafaël van Johannes de Doper als kind before 1863

This is a photographic reproduction by Giacomo Brogi of Raphael's depiction of a young Saint John the Baptist. John is easily recognizable by his animal skin garment and the reed cross at his side. But it is the gesture of the raised hand that is most striking. This symbol of the raised hand is a potent image, one that transcends time and place. In ancient Roman art, it signified power and authority, a declaration of the emperor's will. Yet, here, it signifies John’s role as a prophet, a pointer towards the divine. We see similar gestures in depictions of ancient deities, orators, and even in modern political propaganda. This gesture acts as a kind of visual shorthand. It taps into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations of leadership, guidance, and spiritual awakening. In Saint John, this gesture is not merely a symbol, but a conduit through which the viewer experiences a powerful sense of spiritual calling. The image invites us to remember, to reflect, and to recognize the enduring human need for guidance and transcendence.