In 18th century Italian painting St John the Baptist was sometimes represented as a handsome youth. Wearing animal skins, his appearance was also dishevelled and unkempt as he lived the life of an ascetic in the desert. St John the Baptist is also identified by his cross made from reeds and the ribbon inscribed with ‘Ecce Agnus Dei’. Derived from the fourth gospel (1:36) it states ‘ John looked towards Jesus and said ‘There is the Lamb of God’”.