Artwork Page for Baptism of Christ

Details / Information for Baptism of Christ

Baptism of Christ

1580s

workshop of Jacopo Tintoretto

(Italian, 1518–1594)
Culture
Italy, 16th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 200 x 286.5 x 14 cm (78 3/4 x 112 13/16 x 5 1/2 in.); Unframed: 169 x 251.4 cm (66 9/16 x 99 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Hanna Fund 1950.400
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

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.
A horizontally oriented oil painting depicts the Baptism of Christ featuring muscular figures with light skin tones. Standing in a river, Christ crosses his hands over his chest while John the Baptist, to our right, pours water from a bowl over his head. Christ wears a pink cloth and a winged angel on our left holds a blue cloth. Above, a dove hovers in a burst of light among clouds filled with winged infant heads.

Baptism of Christ

1580s

Jacopo Tintoretto

(Italian, 1518–1594)
Italy, 16th century

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