Baptism of Christ

The Baptism of Christ, originally made for the Oratory of the Fiorentini Confraternity, was created by Veronese, a Venetian painter during the 16th century [1]. Paolo Veronese was born in Verona then moved to Venice to pursue his career, influenced by the work of Albert Durer and his engravings [2]. Veronese focused on biblical subjects with his art, creating large paintings that depicted religious narratives [3]. He was commissioned by the Fiorentini Confraternity to create a painting for their Oratory so that members of the church could see and be reminded of the stories of Christ and his holiness.

Paolo Veronese paints the biblical story of Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan. Christ is shriveled and curled up, as his arms are crossed over his torso and his legs are bent. St. John the Baptist is on his right, pouring holy water on Christ to signify the Christian ritual. The angles around Christ gaze in awe of this important Christian rite. Veronese depicts the angles looking up at John the Baptist performing the ritual, with their jaws dropped and their eyes big. Veronese composes the painting with the foreground depicting the characters and the background illustrating the scenic River Jordan. The background is painted with a dark color palette with the trees branching from the darkness in order to make the viewer focus more on the religious narrative portrayed in the foreground. Veronese utilizes a variety of colors to depict the clothing of the characters, using shadows and light to indicate the delicate folding. The men have faint golden halos around their heads, signifying their religious importance. Gold light also beams from the dove up above, representing the spirit of God as he presides over this ritual. Doves are symbols of purity and holiness, and are even representations of God himself in the Bible. The source of light in the painting comes from the dove up above as it beams down on the angles and men below, symbolizing the righteousness and sacredness of God. As George Goldner states, the painting creates the feeling of solemnity and piety for the viewer, a common theme across Veronese's work [4]. His painting illustrates this religious narrative, telling the viewer the story of the Baptism.

During his time as an artist, Veronese depicted the scene of the Baptism multiple times, each time recreating and retelling new versions of the religious story. He revisits this theme, showing his evolution of artistic progress throughout time as his techniques and interpretations grow and reshape. 

[1] “Baptism of Christ by Paolo Caliari, Also Known as Veronese: Artworks: Uffizi Galleries,” Uffizi Gallery, Accessed October 29, 2020, https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/veronese-baptism. 

[2] Francois Crastre and Frederic Taber Cooper, Veronese, (New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company), 17.

[3] Rodolfo Pallucchini, “Paolo Veronese,” Encyclopædia Britannica,  Accessed October 29, 2020, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paolo-Veronese.

[4] George Goldner, "A Baptism of Christ by Veronese in the Getty Museum," The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal 9 (1981): 116

“Baptism of Christ by Paolo Caliari, Also Known as Veronese: Artworks: Uffizi Galleries.” Uffizi Gallery. Accessed October 29, 2020. https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/veronese-baptism. 

Crastre, Francois, and Frederic Taber Cooper. Veronese. New York, NY: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1912.

Goldner, George R. "A Baptism of Christ by Veronese in the Getty Museum." The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal 9 (1981): 111-26. 

Pallucchini, Rodoplfo. “Paolo Veronese.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed October 29, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paolo-Veronese.

Penny, Nicholas. "Composition, Gesture and Meaning in an Early Painting by Veronese." Artibus Et Historiae 35, no. 70 (2014): 211-19.

Image source: Paolo Veronese. c. 1583. Baptism of Christ. painting. Place: Galleria Palatina. https://library.artstor.org/asset/SCALA_ARCHIVES_1039488389.

Fiorentini Confraternity

Image source: Paolo Veronese. c. 1583. Baptism of Christ. painting. Place: Galleria Palatina. https://library.artstor.org/asset/SCALA_ARCHIVES_1039488389.