Artwork
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Innocenzo di Pietro Francucci da Imola. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts John the Baptist, a central figure in Christian tradition recognized as the forerunner of Christ and the preacher of repentance in the wilderness. As a religious work, it belongs to a long devotional tradition of portraying the saint, who is commonly shown with attributes such as a camel-hair garment, a reed cross, and a scroll or lamb signifying his role in announcing the Messiah.
Within the context of Innocenzo da Imola's 1550 composition, the subject is treated as a religious devotional image, with John the Baptist identified as the main subject of the work. The saint's depiction fits the conventions of mid-sixteenth-century Italian religious painting, where his ascetic life and prophetic mission were emphasized to inspire contemplation of baptism and spiritual renewal.
History & Provenance
The painting was owned by Robert Lehman prior to entering the museum's holdings, where it forms part of the institution's permanent collection.
Saint John the Baptist, a religious painting by Innocenzo di Pietro Francucci da Imola, was created circa 1550. After its completion, the work entered the private collection of American banker and collector Robert Lehman. Lehman’s holdings were subsequently bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where the painting has been housed since the mid‑20th century as part of the Robert Lehman Collection. No specific commission or earlier ownership details are recorded in the available sources.
Saint John the Baptist by Innocenzo di Pietro Francucci da Imola is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The painting was owned by Robert Lehman prior to entering the museum's holdings, where it forms part of the institution's permanent collection.
No specific exhibition history or accession number is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This painting, Saint John the Baptist, was created around 1550 by the Italian artist Innocenzo (di Pietro) Francucci, known as Innocenzo da Imola. The work is a religious depiction characteristic of the Mannerist movement, which emerged in the mid-16th century. It is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant example of the artist's output during the High Renaissance transition.
Technique & Style
Innocenzo da Imola's approach in this work aligns with the Mannerist aesthetic, which often favored dramatic compositions and emotional intensity. The artist employs strong contrasts between light and shadow, a technique akin to chiaroscuro, to sculpt the figure and imbue it with a sense of three-dimensional volume. This method draws the viewer's attention directly to the saint, enhancing the painting's spiritual gravity and the figure's physical presence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Innocenzo di Pietro Francucci da Imola
Innocenzo (di Pietro) Francucci (c. 1490 – c. 1550), generally known as Innocenzo da Imola, was an Italian painter and draftsman.
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