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The Baptism of Christ
(18th and 19th Centuries )
As described in the Bible, when John the Baptist baptized Jesus, the heavens opened and the spirit of God descended as a dove. The artist places this scene by the walls of Jerusalem. Concepts of architectural grandeur prevalent in Europe at the end of the 18th century have led the artist to introduce vast classical buildings behind the city walls. Andrea Appiani, a Milanese artist, served as Napoleon's court painter in Italy.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Don Marcello Massarenti Collection, Rome [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1902, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 12/10/1963 | Treatment | coated; inpainted; stabilized; surface cleaned |
| 1/10/1969 | Treatment | inpainted; loss compensation; stabilized |
Measurements
10 7/8 x 13 11/16 in. (27.6 x 34.7 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters with the Massarenti Collection, 1902
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
37.1017