This painting was originally titled "John the Baptist in the Wilderness," but identifying details were later painted over, and John's 'hair shirt' was changed into the leopard skin of Dionysus. Whether or not someone was making a point by changing John into Bacchus/Dionysus is unknown, but this is not the only image of the Baptist with Dionysian features painted by Renaissance artists.

Compare this image with and the sketch of Gabriel titled "Angel in the Flesh."