Weenix, Jan Baptist, 1621-63, Dutch painter and engraver. About 1649 he settled in Utrecht, becoming in the same year the master of the painters' guild there. Weenix excelled in painting pastoral scenes, with ruins and shepherds or shepherdesses and their flocks. He also painted seaports, portraits, and genre scenes. Examples of his work are in many European galleries. The Metropolitan Museum has his Italian Seaport. His son and pupil, Jan Weenix, c.1640-1719, began as a painter of seaports in the manner of his father, but later became known for his fine animal paintings, hunting scenes, and studies of dead game; many are now in European museums. The Metropolitan Museum has a study of fruit.

John the Baptist, Saint, d. c.A.D. 28-A.D. 30, Jewish prophet, considered by Christians to be the forerunner of Jesus. He was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was also a kinswoman of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his birth was miraculously foretold. After spending some time in the desert, he received a divine call to preach repentance to the people of the Jordan valley in preparation for the Messiah. He baptized his followers, and he baptized Jesus, whom he believed to be the Son of God. John's vigorous preaching and great popularity enraged the aristocracy, and he offended Herodias, wife of Herod, by rebuking her publicly. At her instigation and at the direct request of her daughter Salome he was beheaded. (Mat. 11.1-19; 17.11-13; Mark 6.14-29; Luke 1.5-80; 3.1-20; John 1.15-36.) John is also mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus. Christians have long venerated St. John the Baptist; he is the only saint besides the Virgin Mary whose birthday is celebrated: June 24. The feast of his beheading is Aug. 29.

John Baptist de la Salle, Saint, 1651-1719, French educator, founder of the Christian Brothers, b. Reims. He became a priest and canon of the cathedral. He spent his life teaching children of the poor. In 1684 (having resigned his canonry) he formed of his assistants a new order, the Christian Brothers. In 1685 to train his teachers, St. John Baptist founded at Reims what is called the first normal school. He was a careful pedagogical thinker and ranks as one of the distinguished educators of modern times. His name in French is Jean Baptiste de la Salle. Feast: May 15.

Huysmans, Jan Baptist: see under Huysmans, Cornelis.

German Baptist Brethren: see Brethren.

David, John Baptist Mary, 1761-1841, French missionary in the United States, b. Brittany. He was educated at Nantes, joined the Sulpicians, and because of the French Revolution emigrated to the United States. At Bardstown, Ky., he founded a seminary (St. Thomas) and schools for boys and girls. He also established a community of Sisters of Charity at Nazareth, Ky. From 1819 he was bishop coadjutor of Bardstown. Bishop David's devotional works were popular for a generation.

(born 1st century AD) Jewish prophet revered in Christianity as the forerunner of Jesus. Sources for his life are the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the historian Josephus. His mother, Elizabeth, was perhaps a relative of Mary; his father was the priest Zechariah. As a young man John lived in the Judaean desert, either as a hermit or as part of a Jewish monastic community such as the Essenes. He attracted much public notice circa AD 28 as a prophet in the Jordan Valley. He preached the imminent wrathful judgment of God and called on his hearers to repent and be baptized. Jesus himself came to be baptized by John and shortly afterward began his own mission. John was imprisoned for criticizing the illegal marriage of Herod Antipas and was executed after Herod's stepdaughter, Salome, demanded his head as a reward for dancing for the king's guests.

Learn more about John the Baptist, Saint with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born March 19, 1873, Brand, Bavaria, Ger.—died May 11, 1916, Leipzig) German composer and organist. From 1890 to 1893 he studied at Sondershausen and Wiesbaden and taught piano, organ, and theory. By 1901, despite opposition to his traditional methods, he had established himself in Munich as a composer, pianist, and teacher. He became a prolific composer of songs, piano pieces, and especially organ music. His music, combining progressive and conservative elements and often highly chromatic, has always been more popular in Germany than elsewhere.

Learn more about Reger, (Johann Baptist Joseph) Max(imilian) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born 1st century AD) Jewish prophet revered in Christianity as the forerunner of Jesus. Sources for his life are the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the historian Josephus. His mother, Elizabeth, was perhaps a relative of Mary; his father was the priest Zechariah. As a young man John lived in the Judaean desert, either as a hermit or as part of a Jewish monastic community such as the Essenes. He attracted much public notice circa AD 28 as a prophet in the Jordan Valley. He preached the imminent wrathful judgment of God and called on his hearers to repent and be baptized. Jesus himself came to be baptized by John and shortly afterward began his own mission. John was imprisoned for criticizing the illegal marriage of Herod Antipas and was executed after Herod's stepdaughter, Salome, demanded his head as a reward for dancing for the king's guests.

Learn more about John the Baptist, Saint with a free trial on Britannica.com.