The Baptism of Christ
around 1622/23 | Guido Reni
John is preaching at the Jordan River, baptising, and proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. When Jesus himself steps into the river to accept baptism from John with angels holding the garments he has taken off, the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove. The sky opens, and God’s voice is heard: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” Realism and idealisation, worldly and heavenly things imbue one another in this solemn scene with its balanced composition, taking the art of Raphael as its model.
John is preaching at the Jordan River, baptising, and proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. When Jesus himself steps into the river to accept baptism from John with angels holding the garments he has taken off, the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove. The sky opens, and God’s voice is heard: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” Realism and idealisation, worldly and heavenly things imbue one another in this solemn scene with its balanced composition, taking the art of Raphael as its model.
Artist:
Guido Reni (1575 - 1642 Bologna) DNB
Time:
around 1622/23
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, Emilian
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
in der Breite beschnitten: cut in the width: 263,5 x 186,5 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 222
Provenance
1638-1649 Hamilton Coll.; acquired in 1649