15 artworks about the preacher Saint John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist

Every year, on the 24th of June, São João is celebrated, a popular festival of the Catholic religion. According to the gospels, Saint John the Baptist was a Jewish preacher who was born in Ein Kerem, in Judea, in the year 2 BC His birth was announced by the angel Gabriel, to his parents, the priest Zacharias and Isabel - a couple already in an advanced age and supposedly sterile. Due to his father's spiritual influences, he soon began to preach the word of God and announce the arrival of the Messiah who would free the Jewish people from the misery and domination of other peoples. In artistic production, Saint John the Baptist is iconographically represented with his right hand raised, a cross, a lamb and purple and red tunics. In addition to these characteristics, there are two famous episodes in his life, which were recurrently represented by artists over the centuries: the baptism of Jesus Christ on the Jordan River and the last moments of his life - when he was arrested and beheaded. This article mentions fifteen artists who contributed to the collection of works of art about the life of Saint John the Baptist.

1. Giampietrino (Giovanni Pietro Rizzoli)

The Virgin nursing the Child and Saint John the Baptist in adoration by Giovanni Pietro Rizzoli, 1500-20

2. Josefa de Óbidos

Saint John the Baptist by Josefa de Óbidos, between 1670 and 1675

3. Bartolomé González

Johannes der Taufer by Bartolomé González, circa 1600

4. Leonardo da Vinci

Saint John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci, 1508-09

5. Anton Raphael Mengs

St. John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness by Anton Raphael Mengs, circa 1760

6. João Cutileiro 

Saint John the Baptist in João Cutileiro, 2000

7. Brueghel l'Ancien

La Predication de Saint Jean-Baptiste by Brueghel l'Ancien, 1566

8. Domingos Sequeira

Preaching of St. John the Baptist by Domingos Sequeira, 1793

9. Gregorio Fernández

Baptism of Christby Gregorio Fernandez, 1630

10. Piero della Francesca

battesimo di christ by Piero della Francesca, 1450

11. Mattia Preti

San Giovanni Battista Predicazione in Mattia Preti, 1665

12. Andrea Pisano

South Doors of the Florence Baptistry by Andrea Pisano, between 1330 and 1336

13. Grain Vasco

John the Baptist and Saint Anthony grain Vasco, 1515

14. Caravaggio

The Beheading of John the Baptist or Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Caravaggio, 1608

15. Onorio Marinari

Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist by Onorio Marinari, 1670