The magnificent work dates back to the early seventeenth century and the theme is one of the most replicated by Caravaggio. The young saint is portrayed fraternally embracing a ram, perhaps representing the sacrifice of Christ, seated on a red tunic and camel skin, symbols of the Savior and of the Baptist himself. At the foot of the figure is represented the beardless yew, whose medicinal virtues have been known since ancient times. Finally, the relationship of the work with Michelangelo's nudes of the Sistine Chapel, of which Caravaggio was an admirer, has been underlined for some time.