1655
oil
canvas
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
Dominant colour
Ecce Agnus Dei is a 1655 oil by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, a Baroque work, depicting John the Baptist, held at Art Institute of Chicago.
You see Jesus as a lamb, with John the Baptist pointing to him. The painting has inscriptions from the gospels of John and Luke floating in the sky. These inscriptions add a layer of meaning to the scene, highlighting the connection between the two figures. Check out the work of artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo to learn more about his style and other paintings.
This is one of four large canvases devoted to the life of Saint John the Baptist that Bartolomé Esteban Murillo painted for the convent of San Leandro in his native Seville, Spain. Inscriptions from the gospels of John and Luke float in the sky, accompanied by the eagle and winged bull that, respectively, symbolize these evangelists. John the Baptist’s gesture toward Jesus alludes to the Baptist’s role in preparing the way for Christ. When he painted this series, Murillo was transitioning away from the hard edges and dramatic shading inspired by Francisco de Zurbarán toward softer, more…
Painted for the refectory of the Augustinian convent of San Leandro, Seville, together with three other paintings of the life of St. John the Baptist and a one of Saint Augustine washing Christ’s feet [see correspondence of Francisco de Bruna and the Conde del Aguila, about 1781 published by Carriazo 1929, p. 180]; sold by the convent to Antonio Bravo, Seville, 23 June 1812 [manuscript catalogue, Bravo Collection, University of Seville, according to Baticle and Marinas 1981]; his brother, Aniceto Bravo, sold together with an unknown Murillo and three other paintings to Luis Bouisson for M.…
Madrid, Museo del Prado, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682), 8 October - 12 December 1982; traveled to London, Royal Academy of Arts, 15 January - 27 March 1983, no. 22. Forth Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682): Paintings from American Collections, 10 March – 16 June 2002; traveled to Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 14 July – 6 October 2002, no. 6.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo ( mure-IL-oh, m(y)uu-REE-oh, Spanish: ; late December 1617, baptised 1 January 1618 – 3 April 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.
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