Who painted Sermon of St John the Baptist?

Sermon of St John the Baptist was painted by Hans Jordaens III in 1620.

Where can I see Sermon of St John the Baptist?

Sermon of St John the Baptist is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Sermon of St John the Baptist?

Sermon of St John the Baptist is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Sermon of St John the Baptist

Hans Jordaens III , 1620

Sermon of St John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Hans Jordaens III. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Hans Jordaens III’s oil painting Sermon of St John the Baptist, executed in 1620, portrays a biblical scene in which a crowd gathers around a preacher positioned on a rocky outcrop. The work is part of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, identified as John the Baptist, addresses a mixed assembly of listeners in a forested setting. The composition emphasizes the act of preaching, with the surrounding figures—ranging from modestly dressed individuals to those in more formal robes—showing attentive, solemn expressions.

Technique & Style

Jordaens employs a restrained palette and careful modeling of light to create depth, using chiaroscuro to highlight the preacher and the foreground figures. The naturalistic rendering of foliage and the detailed depiction of a nursing mother and a nearby dog add a domestic dimension to the religious narrative.

History & Provenance

Created in the early seventeenth century, the painting entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s European Baroque collection.