Artwork
The Sermon of St. John the Baptist
The Sermon of St. John the Baptist is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bernardo Strozzi. It dates from 1644 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Bernardo Strozzi’s *The Sermon of St. John the Baptist* (1644) is an oil painting that belongs to the early Italian Baroque. Executed by the Genoese artist who later worked in Venice, the work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a bearded figure, identified as John the Baptist, who gestures emphatically toward an unseen point. Flanking him are four listeners, including a child in red, a man holding a rope topped with a small cross, and two other figures, all appearing to receive his instruction in an outdoor setting.
Technique & Style
Strozzi employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting bright illumination on the principal figures with deeper shadows in the surrounding landscape. The handling of light creates a three‑dimensional effect, while the loose brushwork and warm palette reflect the Baroque interest in drama and movement.
History & Provenance
Born circa 1581 in Genoa, Strozzi earned the nicknames *il Cappuccino* and *il Prete Genovese* and was active in both Genoa and Venice. The painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the 19th century, where it remains on public display.
Context
Created during a period when Venetian painters were adapting the dramatic vigor of Roman Baroque, the work illustrates how Strozzi merged his Genoese training with the luminous colourism of Venice, contributing to the development of a distinctly Venetian Baroque idiom.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardo Strozzi, named il Cappuccino and il Prete Genovese (c. 1581 – 2 August 1644), was an Italian Baroque artist who was a painter and engraver. A canvas and fresco artist, his wide subject range included history,…
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