Italy / 1580s
Baptism of Christ
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Baptism of Christ as painting (Italy · 1580s).
Based on a passage from the New Testament book of Matthew, this work depicts Saint John the Baptist performing Christ's baptism in the river Jordan, during which the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. The powerful modeling of the bodies and luminous color characterize High Renaissance p
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Jacopo Tintoretto (Italian, 1518–1594).
The museum's collection notes: Based on a passage from the New Testament book of Matthew, this work depicts Saint John the Baptist performing Christ's baptism in the river Jordan, during which the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. The powerful modeling of the bodies and luminous color characterize High Renaissance painting in Venice. Because of Tintoretto's pioneering use of rich color, his work was a crucial source for many later artists.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtBaptism of ChristOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.