Who painted Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist?

Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist was painted by Francesco Granacci in 1506-01-01.

Where can I see Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist?

Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist?

Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist is associated with High Renaissance.

Artwork

Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist

Francesco Granacci , 1506

Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist is an unspecified painting by the High Renaissance artist Francesco Granacci. It dates from 1506 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painting depicts multiple episodes from the life of Saint John the Baptist.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

This arrangement places the future prophet within a domestic setting shared by his mother and maternal aunt, emphasizing the early bonds of the holy family.

The work depicts the infant Saint John the Baptist together with a woman, another infant, a bedroom, a bed, and the figures of John the Baptist, Mary, and Elizabeth, as recorded in the catalog entry. This arrangement places the future prophet within a domestic setting shared by his mother and maternal aunt, emphasizing the early bonds of the holy family. The inclusion of Mary and Elizabeth alongside the child underscores themes of familial devotion and foreshadows John's later role as herald.

By situating the sacred narrative in an intimate interior, the painting highlights humility and the preparatory nature of John's birth, linking personal history to theological significance.

Technique & Style

Francesco Granacci executed Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist in 1506 as a painting belonging to the religious genre. The artwork is constructed on a horizontal, rectangular support, measuring 77.6 cm in height and 151.1 cm in width. This elongated format accommodates the narrative progression of the depicted religious episodes, which feature figures such as the Child Saint John, Mary, and Elizabeth within interior domestic settings, including a bedroom and bed.

As a painting from the early 16th century, the work reflects the formal and stylistic conventions of the High Renaissance, characterized by structured figural arrangements and narrative clarity across the panoramic composition.

History & Provenance

The painting Scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist was executed by Francesco Granacci around 1506. The original commission remains undocumented in the sources, and the work's known provenance begins with its status as a holding of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is inventoried as 1975.1.133 and was first recorded in the collection in 1975.

Overview

This painting depicts multiple episodes from the life of Saint John the Baptist. It presents two distinct narrative moments side-by-side, inviting viewers to follow the unfolding story. The composition features a rich array of figures set within detailed architectural and interior spaces, rendered with vibrant colors and a keen awareness of light.