Who painted Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint?

Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint was painted by Master of the Virgo inter Virgines in 1494.

Where can I see Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint?

Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint is held by Walters Art Museum.

What movement is Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint?

Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint

Master of the Virgo inter Virgines , 1494

Saint John the Baptist and a Bishop Saint is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Virgo inter Virgines. It dates from 1494 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum. Created in 1494, this oil painting presents two figures set against a pastoral landscape of blue sky and rolling green hills.

About this work

Overview

The left-hand figure, barefoot and clothed in a red robe over a brown tunic, gestures toward a white lamb resting on a red cushion.

Created in 1494, this oil painting presents two figures set against a pastoral landscape of blue sky and rolling green hills. The left-hand figure, barefoot and clothed in a red robe over a brown tunic, gestures toward a white lamb resting on a red cushion. To his right, a robed cleric in a white hat holds a gilded staff and a red book, his gray habit edged with gold. The composition is enclosed by an elaborate gold border.

Subject & Meaning

The work juxtaposes John the Baptist, identified by his gesture toward the lamb—a traditional symbol of Christ—with a bishop saint, whose ecclesiastical attire and staff denote authority. The lamb functions as an emblem of sacrifice, linking the prophetic role of John to the sacramental duties of the bishop, suggesting a theological dialogue between prophetic witness and clerical stewardship.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Northern Renaissance idiom, the painting displays the meticulous realism characteristic of Early Netherlandish art. Fine brushwork renders textures—from the softness of the lamb's wool to the sheen of the gold border—while the landscape background employs a clear, naturalistic palette. The artist’s handling of light creates subtle modeling on the figures, emphasizing materiality and depth.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the Master of the Virgo inter Virgines, an anonymous painter active near Delft between 1483 and 1498, the piece reflects the artist’s known focus on detailed realism. The work entered the Walters Art Museum collection in the early twentieth century, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of Northern Renaissance paintings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Master of the Virgo inter Virgines

The Master of the Virgo inter Virgines was an Early Netherlandish painter and designer of woodcuts active around Delft between 1483 and 1498.

Museum

Walters Art Museum

Continue through works from the same source collection.