Baptism of Christ

About this work

This painting shows Jesus standing in the Jordan River as John the Baptist pours water over his head. The sky above them splits open, and a bright white dove descends, its wings spread wide. Tintoretto painted the bodies with strong light and shadow, making the figures look solid and real. He loved rich colors, especially deep blues and warm golds, which make the scene glow. Look up Jacopo Tintoretto (Italian, 1518–1594) to see how he changed Venetian art.