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The Baptism of Christ by Jan Van Scorel

The Baptism of Christ by Jan Van Scorel

Christ being baptised in the river Jordan by St John the Baptist. The Holy Ghost appears in the form of a radiant dove. For this painting Van Scorel drew on elements from works by Raphael and other Italian Renaissance artists. He had travelled in Italy.


The picture is a superior example of the assimilation of the new Italian conception in Netherlandish painting. In it several motives, functionally quite distinct, are brought together, and they are brought together as they should be: within a clear, realistic space, and answering to aesthetic requirements developed in Renaissance art theory, such as grace and visual variety.

Details

Created
c. 1527 - 1530
Medium
oil on panel
Dimension
156cm × 120cm
Passage
Mark 1:1-13
Housed at
Frans Hals Museum Groot Heiligland 62, Haarlem

Found in: Mark, Mark 1, 16th century, Baptism of Jesus

Mark 1:1-13

1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:

3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

7 He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.

8 I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

11 A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

13 He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.

Mark 1:1-13 · World English Bible

The artist

Jan Van Scorel

Jan Van Scorel

1495 - 1562

Schoorl, Netherland

Jan van Scorel (1 August 1495 – 6 December 1562) was a Dutch painter, who played a leading role in introducing aspects of Italian Renaissance painting into Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting. Van Scorel was one of the early painters of the Romanist style who had spent a number of years in Italy, where he thoroughly absorbed the Italian style of painting. His trip to Italy coincided with the brief reign of the only Dutch pope in history, Adrian VI…

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