Artwork
John the Baptist
John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Francesco Granacci. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
He wears a camel-skin garment and holds a thin wooden cross, attributes that identify him and reference his biblical role as the forerunner of Christ.
The painting depicts John the Baptist, the Christian prophet traditionally shown in wilderness attire. He wears a camel-skin garment and holds a thin wooden cross, attributes that identify him and reference his biblical role as the forerunner of Christ. The sparse background and the figure’s upward gaze focus attention on the subject’s spiritual authority and penitential mission.
These iconographic elements align with established conventions for images of the Baptist in Italian religious art of the early sixteenth century.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1532, this religious painting by Francesco Granacci utilizes oil paint applied to a poplar panel support. The work measures 127.5 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width, presenting a vertical format typical for devotional figures of the period. The composition focuses exclusively on the depiction of John the Baptist as the main subject.
Currently held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek, the piece exemplifies the artist's engagement with oil medium on wood during the early sixteenth century.
History & Provenance
The painting John the Baptist was created by Francesco Granacci in 1532 using oil paint on a poplar panel. It has been part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections since its inception and is currently housed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work measures 127.5 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width. It was produced during the early 16th century, reflecting the religious art conventions of the period.
The painting John the Baptist by Francesco Granacci is housed in the Alte Pinakothek within the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it is recorded under the inventory number 1947. The work has been part of the museum's exhibition spaces, appearing in displays focused on Renaissance religious art.
Legacy
The painting John the Baptist by Francesco Granacci, completed in 1532, has been studied for its devotional intensity and subtle psychological portraiture, influencing later interpretations of the saint in Renaissance art. Its presence in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek has made it a reference point for scholars examining devotional imagery in early sixteenth-century Italy.
Overview
Francesco Granacci's 'John the Baptist' is a 1532 oil painting held in the Alte Pinakothek. Created during the Mannerist period, it exemplifies the artist's skill in depicting religious figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Granacci (1469 – 30 November 1543) was an Italian Renaissance painter active primarily in his native Florence.
