Artwork
Birth of St. John the Baptist
Birth of St. John the Baptist is a print by Frédéric Hortemels. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Frédéric Hortemels produced this ink print in 1750, interpreting a composition originally devised by Tintoretto. Executed on paper, the work portrays the birth of Saint John the Baptist in a tightly arranged interior scene, rendered entirely in black and white.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a domestic moment: a kneeling woman cradles an infant on a bed while surrounding figures observe, gesture, and interact. A dog sniffing near a bowl and a man holding a staff add narrative detail, suggesting a humble, communal celebration of the saint’s arrival.
Technique & Style
Hortemels employs a stark chiaroscuro scheme, contrasting deep shadows with illuminated faces and hands to model the figures. The precise delineation of light and dark creates a dramatic spatial depth, while the ink lines define the crowded composition with clarity.
History & Provenance
Based on Tintoretto’s earlier painting, the print reflects the 18th‑century practice of reproducing celebrated works for broader circulation. Produced in 1750, it exemplifies Hortemels’ role in disseminating Italian Baroque motifs through French printmaking workshops.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frédéric Hortemels made prints in early 18th-century France. His engraving Birth of St. John the Baptist shows the newborn wrapped in swaddling cloths, his mother Elizabeth lying back, a maid holding a basin, and…
