Who painted The Birth of Saint John the Baptist?

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist was painted by Master of Miraflores in 1496.

Where can I see The Birth of Saint John the Baptist?

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Birth of Saint John the Baptist?

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist

Master of Miraflores , 1496

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of Miraflores. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting represents the birth of John the Baptist, a prominent religious subject. The iconography centers on the nativity scene of the saint, with a bed explicitly depicted as a key element of the setting. This focus on the physical birth event and the inclusion of the bed emphasize the human and domestic aspects of the biblical narrative within a religious context.

History & Provenance

While the source material confirms the museum location and the previous holding, it does not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece.

The panel was painted around 1490 by the Master of Miraflores, as recorded in both the Prado’s internal documentation and the work’s Wikidata entry, which lists its inception year as 1490 and gives its dimensions as 90 cm high by 55 cm wide.

The painting entered the Museo del Prado via the 1872 transfer of holdings from the Museo de la Trinidad, where it had previously been held.

The painting The Birth of Saint John the Baptist by the Master of Miraflores is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work originated from the Museo de la Trinidad, indicating a transfer of custody to its present institution. While the source material confirms the museum location and the previous holding, it does not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Furthermore, no details regarding the artwork's exhibition history are recorded in the available documentation.

Overview

Created in 1496, this panel painting by the anonymous Master of Miraflores portrays the nativity of Saint John the Baptist. The work is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is displayed among other late‑15th‑century Spanish religious pieces.

Technique & Style

The painter employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing light to fall gently on the central figures and recede into shadowed corners, creating a sense of depth and intimacy. The muted palette, careful modeling of drapery, and the tiled floor’s linear perspective reflect the transitional aesthetics of late Gothic Spain moving toward early Renaissance sensibilities.