Artwork
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
The painting 'Saint John the Baptist' is an oil painting depicting a youthful figure.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is shown with long red hair, wearing a red cloth, and holding a staff and a scroll with faded writing, identifying him as Saint John the Baptist.
Technique & Style
The artist achieved a soft glow on the figure's skin using smooth brushstrokes and a strong contrast between light and shadow, a technique known as chiaroscuro.
Context
The use of chiaroscuro creates a dramatic effect, emphasizing the figure against a dark background.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
