The Baptism of Christ

The Baptism of Christ was created by Pietro Perugino in 1506, executed in oil paint. According to the Wikidata record, the painting is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, with a documented location at both the Art Institute of Chicago and the Santissima Annunziata. No additional details regarding commission, prior ownership, or transfer history are recorded in the available sources. confirms the date of 1506 and the attribution to Perugino, while corroborates the inception year and the current institutional holding.

The Baptism of Christ, painted by Pietro Perugino in 1506, is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work, executed in oil on canvas, measures 27.3 cm in height and 46.4 cm in width. While the painting's location at the museum is established, the provided records do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they list any past or current exhibitions for this piece.

Created in 1506 by the Umbrian painter Pietro Perugino, this oil on canvas portrays the biblical moment of Christ’s baptism. The composition centers on a nude figure standing in shallow water, while a robed man, identified as John the Baptist, places his hand on the newcomer’s shoulder. A small group of onlookers in vivid garments frames the scene, set against a tranquil river, distant hills and a lightly clouded sky.

Perugino’s career bridged the transition from the early to the High Renaissance, and his workshop trained the young Raphael, who would later refine many of his master’s compositional principles. The Baptism of Christ exemplifies the Umbrian school’s lyrical clarity and serves as a visual reference for the evolving treatment of religious narratives during the period.