The Baptism of Jesus
1600s-1700s
http://www.romansonline.com/Ev_img.asp?EventID=436&Ename=Jesus%20baptized
This image is different from the other images in my Image Gallery. While it is still a depiction of Jesus' baptism, this image is a sculpture. The piece was sculpted by an artist by the name of Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654) in 1644-1645. Because this is a sculpted piece, it is taken out of time and space. The figures are not set against a backdrop, and there is no background or scenery involved. The sculpture is not very naturalistic because the figures almost look like Roman gods or heroes.
The figure of John the Baptist, on the right, is especially large and has a commanding presence about him. Jesus, on the other hand, is somewhat smaller and is bending over in an act of humility. Jesus also seems to be particularly worried about keeping His garment from slipping, whereas John does not seem to be bothered by his. It almost seems as if the artist is portraying John as the divine being in the sculpture instead of Jesus. Perhaps Algardi uses this technique to place a greater emphasis on the human face of Christ. John is also displaying great ease in the way that he is baptizing Christ, and he is being very careful as he baptizes, which is evident by the position of his left arm and also by the expression on his face. It seems as if John is afraid of hurting Jesus, as if Jesus is something fragile that might break.
This image portrays the more human side of Christ, which is evident in the depiction of and the interaction between Jesus and John. The fact that the sculpture is done in a bronze or gold color and that the figures, especially that of John, look like immortal Roman gods may suggest divinity, but I think the overall theme of the sculpture is that of Christ's humanity.
Jesus appears very humbled in this depiction. This humility is not portrayed as quite this intense in the Biblical accounts of the baptism. However, in the Meditations, as in the sculpture, the humility of Christ is heavily emphasized. When Jesus is explaining to John that He must be baptized by John, Jesus says, "Now is the time for humility, and I wish to carry out every humility" (pp. 106). This statement implies that Jesus intended to take on and to bear every human experience. I get the same feeling from this sculpture. There is great detail on the faces of the figures, and I can almost feel what Jesus is feeling.
The sculpture is, however, missing two of the key elements of the baptism as it is recorded in the textual accounts. Algardi does not show God in this piece, nor does he show the dove/Holy Spirit. I think the artist intentionally leaves these items out to further reinforce and emphasize the humanity and humility of Christ. The viewer is supposed to identify with Christ and to see that He humbled Himself before God just as those who believe and have faith in God should do.
http://www.artreasures.com/Artwork/art05.htm
This image was painted sometime during the mid-late 1700s by Antinio Diziani (1737-1798) (Authentic Antique Artwork). This is a very naturalistic depiction of the baptism of Christ in comparison with some of the other paintings that I have looked at. The colors are not bright, but they are natural colors that one would actually see in an environment like the one depicted in the painting. The scene and the background are very believable, and I can imagine in my mind what it would be like to be there. In fact, when viewing the painting one almost feels as if he/she is there standing only a short distance away, watching as John baptizes Jesus.
There is no light shining down from heaven as it is recorded in the written texts, nor is there a dove descending upon Jesus. However, I think the deletion of those things adds to the naturalism of the painting. While the presence of God and of the Holy Spirit are very important aspects of Jesus' baptism, leaving them out of this depiction helps to show the more human side of Christ, the side that people on earth can relate to. There really do not seem to be any divine aspects in Diziani's depiction of the baptism.
Jesus is bending over for John to baptize Him, and He almost looks as if He is suffering. He is in a position similar to the position He is in when He has to carry His cross to the hill at Golgatha. Depicting Christ in this way signifies the suffering that He would endure on the cross. It is also symbolic of the way in which by His crucifixion, He took on the sins of all humans. He carried those sins on His back. Jesus is also not wearing much clothing to greater emphasize His humility.
The water in the background and the waterfall seem to represent peace and tranquility, as well as cleansing and purification. There are no other witnesses to this event, and one can almost sense how quiet it would be there with only the sound of the waterfall to break the silence. This depiction is somewhat different from the textual accounts. Luke records that other people were present and were being baptized along with Jesus. The Gospels and the Meditations also tell of the presence of God and of the Holy Spirit, but these things are omitted from the painting to further the author's purpose.
One item that is added to this representation is the presence of the little lamb. There is no mention of a lamb in any of the written accounts, but this lamb is perhaps symbolic of Jesus as the Lamb of God. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifice was used as way for the people to praise God and to thank Him. When Jesus came into the world as a human and died on the cross, however, animal sacrifice was no longer needed or required by God. Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world, which is why He is sometimes referred to as the Lamb of God. The presence of the lamb in the painting is symbolic of the sacrifice that Jesus would make for all of mankind by suffering and dying on the cross.
500s-1300s 1400s 1500s 1600s-1700s 1800s-1900s
Web Page created by
Kimberly Lynn Paxton
May 2002