Baptism of Christ, ca. 1510

Title

Baptism of Christ

Painter

• Dutch Master around 1510

Inventor

• after Rogier van der Weyden

Altar

St. John Altarpiece (after Rogier van der Weyden)

Part Number / Total

2 / 3

Period Produced

• 16th century

School

• Late Middle Ages

Object Type

• painting (artwork)

Physical Description

Oak wood

Material

• oak wood

Technique

• mixed technique

Label at the Time of Manufacture

Von Gottvater ausgehende Inschrift: Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo michi bene co[m]placui ipsum audite (Mt 17,5; die letzten drei Worte verputzt, aber auf Grundlage des Vorbilds rekonstruierbar)

Institution

• Städel Museum

Departement

• Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

• Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline

Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright

Public Domain

Acquisition

Acquired in 1841

Genre

• altarpiece
• depiction of a saint
• Biblical portrayal
• historical narration

Main Motif

• Jesus Christ
• John the Baptist
• angel
• God the Father
• Holy Spirit
• Jordan
• man
• group of people
• animal
• portal

Persons Shown

• Jesus Christ
• John the Baptist (prophet)
• God the Father
• Holy Spirit
• Peter (apostle)
• Andrew (apostle)
• Saint James the Greater
• John the Evangelist
• Simeon (prophet)

Associated Persons and Institutions

• Rogier van der Weyden

Illustrated Passage

• Bibel, Neues Testament, Matthäus 3,13-17
• Bibel, Neues Testament, Markus 1,9-11
• Bibel, Neues Testament, Lukas 3,21-22
• Bibel, Neues Testament, Johannes 1,29-34

Primary

• 73C12 John the Baptist baptizing
• 73C121(+3) baptism of Christ in the river Jordan: John the Baptist pouring out water on Christ's head: the Holy Ghost descends (+ angel(s))
• 73C121(+11) baptism of Christ in the river Jordan: John the Baptist pouring out water on Christ's head: the Holy Ghost descends (+ God the Father)

Secondary

• 48C145(+74221) architectural settings in paintings, sculptures, etc. (+ Gothic art)
• 48C162(+32) arch, archivolt ~ architecture (+ sculpture)
• 73A142 Zacharias praising the Lord
• 73A181 John the Baptist praying and meditating
• 73C221 'command these stones to become loaves of bread' ~ temptation of Christ in the wilderness
• 73C222 'throw yourself down' (from the temple) ~ temptation of Christ in the wilderness
• 73C223 'all these will I give you' (= the glory of the world) ~ temptation of Christ in the wilderness
• 11H(PETER)9 the apostle Peter, first bishop of Rome; possible attributes: book, cock, (upturned) cross, (triple) crozier, fish, key, scroll, ship, tiara - portrait of male saint
• 11H(ANDREW)9 the apostle Andrew; possible attributes: book, X-shaped cross, fish, fishing-net, rope, scroll - portrait of male saint
• 11H(JAMES THE GREAT)9 the apostle James the Great; possible attributes: book, pilgrim's cloak, hat, shell, staff, and wallet, scroll, sword - portrait of male saint
• 11H(JOHN)9 the apostle John the Evangelist; possible attributes: book, cauldron, chalice with snake, eagle, palm, scroll - portrait of male saint