Who painted Saint John the Baptist?

Saint John the Baptist was painted by Meister des Deichsler-Altars in 1410.

Where can I see Saint John the Baptist?

Saint John the Baptist is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Saint John the Baptist?

Saint John the Baptist is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint John the Baptist

Meister des Deichsler-Altars , 1410

Saint John the Baptist is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Meister des Deichsler-Altars. It dates from 1410 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1410, this panel portrays Saint John the Baptist in a contemplative pose. The figure stands before an arched architectural backdrop, his bare feet placed on a reddish platform. A warm yellow field fills the background, while decorative red and blue motifs frame the arch, lending the composition a balanced, serene atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is identified as John the Baptist, recognizable by his traditional attire—a red robe trimmed with a green sash and a yellow undergarment—and the symbols he holds. In his right hand he bears a staff, while his left supports a white lamb crowned with a halo, alluding to his role as the forerunner of Christ and the Lamb of God.

Technique & Style

Rendered in the early Gothic manner, the painting employs a limited palette of rich reds, greens, blues, and golden yellows. The figure’s drapery is modeled with soft, linear shading that suggests volume, while the architectural arch is outlined with precise, decorative detailing characteristic of the period’s devotional art.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the anonymous master known as the Meister des Deichsler-Altars, the work has been part of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin’s collection. Its dating to the early fifteenth century places it within the transitional phase from medieval iconography toward the more naturalistic approaches that would dominate later in the century.