Artwork
Johannes der Täufer
Johannes der Täufer is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Johann Georg Melchior Schmittner. It dates from 1666 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
3 cm and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek, part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
The painting shows John the Baptist, identifiable by traditional iconographic attributes such as the lamb and a simple garment, emphasizing his role as the forerunner of Christ. The composition underscores his spiritual significance through a serene pose and a direct gaze that conveys prophetic anticipation, reflecting Counter‑Reformation emphasis on personal devotion and martyrdom. Rendered in oil on canvas, the work measures 74 cm by 53.3 cm and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek, part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on canvas, executed in a Baroque style characteristic of mid-17th century religious art. It depicts John the Baptist in half-length format, rendered with chiaroscuro modeling that emphasizes the saint's ascetic presence. The composition features a dark, neutral background that isolates the figure, while the handling of drapery and facial expression reflects the naturalistic trends of the Munich school.
The surface remains well-preserved, with only minor craquelure consistent with age, and the support is a stretched canvas mounted on a wooden frame.
History & Provenance
Johannes der Täufer was created in 1666 by Johann Georg Melchior Schmittner as a religious painting depicting John the Baptist. The work entered the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it is held and displayed at the Alte Pinakothek. No further details regarding its commission, intermediate ownership, or acquisition history are documented in the available sources.
Johann Georg Melchior Schmittner's 1666 painting Johannes der Täufer is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The work is part of the permanent collection at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. While the artwork was created on January 1, 1666, the provided sources do not list specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they document any exhibition history for this piece.
Context
The painting Johannes der Täufer by Johann Georg Melchior Schmittner, created in 1666, depicts John the Baptist in a religious composition now housed in the Alte Pinakothek, part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is recognized as a significant example of religious art from the period, reflecting the artistic engagement with biblical narratives in 17th-century European painting. Scholars have examined its iconography and technical execution within the broader context of German Baroque art, though specific critical reception details remain limited in available documentation.
Legacy
The painting by Johann Georg Melchior Schmittner depicting John the Baptist, created in 1666, is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and housed in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its religious genre reflects Baroque devotional practices, emphasizing the saint's ascetic presence. The work's historical significance derives from its early provenance and continued presence in a major public collection, influencing scholarly discussions of 17th-century German religious art. The dimensions of 74 cm by 53.3 cm remain documented in the collection's records.
The attribution to Schmittner and the painting's iconography have been referenced in studies of Bavarian Baroque painting, establishing its role in shaping perceptions of John the Baptist in German art of the period.
Overview
Johannes der Täufer is a 1666 painting by Johann Georg Melchior Schmittner, a German artist influenced by the Baroque style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Georg Melchior Schmittner
Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner (1625 – 1705) was a German Baroque painter. He became a pupil of the painter Johann Heinrich Schönfeld, and spent 15 years in Italy. Schmidtner is known for his altarpieces in churches…
- Johannes der Täufer
Johannes der Täufer
Johannes der Täufer
Johannes de Doper met het Lam Gods, linkerpaneel van een drieluik (dicht)
Der junge Abel
Saint John the Baptist
David and Goliath
Johannesknabe
Johannes der Täufer mit Lamm
David and Goliath
Narcissus
Maria mit Kind und den hll. Sebastian und Katharina (zugeschrieben)