Baptism of Christ
Francesco Trevisani
Basic information
- ID
- Ж-734
- Author
- Francesco Trevisani
- Name
- Baptism of Christ
- Technique
- oil painting
- Material
- canvas oil
- Dimensions (height x width, cm)
- 51.2 x 39.8
Additionally
- Type
- painting icon
- Genre
- religious
- Plot
- Jesus Christ
- Provenance
- the Lubomirski collection
- Exposition
- Potocki Palace
Information about author
Object description
The canvas depicts the canonical Gospel scene of the Baptism of Christ in the waters of the Jordan. In its composition and colouring, the work belongs to the Baroque era and demonstrates distinct features of the Italian academic school of painting.
In the foreground, Christ receives the sacrament of baptism from John the Baptist in the shallows. On the left, standing in the water, is the semi-nude Christ with a white loincloth around his hips. He has submissively bowed his head and prayerfully crossed his arms over his chest, demonstrating deep humility before the divine will.
On the right, John the Baptist stands barefoot on the shore. He is dressed in a traditional hairshirt, over which a red-pink drapery is cast – a symbol of holiness and his future martyrdom. In his left hand, he holds his attribute – a long cross-shaped shepherd's staff with a white banner bearing the Latin inscription "Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God). With his raised right hand, the saint pours water from a seashell onto the head of Christ.
In the centre of the upper part of the canvas, directly above the head of Jesus, a white dove hovers in the golden-yellow heavenly light – the personification of the Holy Spirit. Amid the bright clouds, a small angel and two cherubim observe the sacrament of baptism.
In the foreground, Christ receives the sacrament of baptism from John the Baptist in the shallows. On the left, standing in the water, is the semi-nude Christ with a white loincloth around his hips. He has submissively bowed his head and prayerfully crossed his arms over his chest, demonstrating deep humility before the divine will.
On the right, John the Baptist stands barefoot on the shore. He is dressed in a traditional hairshirt, over which a red-pink drapery is cast – a symbol of holiness and his future martyrdom. In his left hand, he holds his attribute – a long cross-shaped shepherd's staff with a white banner bearing the Latin inscription "Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God). With his raised right hand, the saint pours water from a seashell onto the head of Christ.
In the centre of the upper part of the canvas, directly above the head of Jesus, a white dove hovers in the golden-yellow heavenly light – the personification of the Holy Spirit. Amid the bright clouds, a small angel and two cherubim observe the sacrament of baptism.
Inscriptions
On the reverse: "Kupiony po J.W.s.p. Jmci xiądzu Waclawie Sierakowskim Arcybiskupie Lwowskim za 2218 dnia 3. Maia 1782 R." [Purchased from the estate of His Grace the Late Archbishop of Lviv, Wacław Sierakowski, for 2,218 florins on 3 May 1782].
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery
