Artwork
St. John the Baptist
St. John the Baptist is a print by the Baroque artist Guercino. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. St.
About this work
Overview
St. John the Baptist is a print by Italian Baroque artist Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri), created circa 1654, now in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the biblical figure of St. John the Baptist in solemn attire, conveying a sense of restrained yet expressive intensity.
Technique & Style
Guercino employed deep shadows to achieve profound depth and realism, characteristic of his later, more classically balanced period, which utilized chiaroscuro to focus attention on the subject.
History & Provenance
Originally from Cento, Guercino worked primarily between Rome and Bologna, evolving from an early vigorous naturalism to a later, more refined classical style, as evident in this piece.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
