Saint John the Baptist Preaching

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Gallery 309, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Main Building

Saint John the Baptist Preaching

c. 1500

Bartolomeo di Giovanni (Italian (active Florence), active 1458?–1501)

John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence, is here shown preaching to a group of lay women. The only other man in the scene wears Eastern dress and may represent the Pharisees who, according to biblical accounts, came to question John about his prophecies. This image was probably made for an association of women who met for prayer in a church or convent.

Rendered on canvas instead of wood, this picture may have been used as a banner. It is among the few Italian works on canvas from this period to survive.

Gallery 309, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Object Details

Title:

Saint John the Baptist Preaching

Date:

c. 1500

Artist:

Bartolomeo di Giovanni (Italian (active Florence), active 1458?–1501)

Medium:

Oil and gold on canvas

Dimensions:

24 1/4 x 21 3/16 inches (61.6 x 53.8 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

John G. Johnson Collection, 1917

Accession Number:

Cat. 71

Geography:

Made in Florence, Italy, Europe

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Gallery 309, European Art 1100-1500, third floor

Main Building

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