"Alexander the Great Receiving News of the Death by Immolation of the Indian Gymnosophist Calanus", painting by Jean-Baptiste de Champaigne, 1672. Jean Baptiste de Champaigne (10 December 1631, Brussels – 27 October 1681, Paris), was a Flemish Baroque painter and teacher. Kalanos, also spelled Calanus (c. 398 - 323 BCE) was a Brahman sage, who accompanied Alexander the Great to Persia and later committed suicide by self-immolation according to his customs.