The Baptism of Christ

The Baptism of Christ

Friedrich Sustris

1584

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a scene of a baptism. In the foreground, a man is kneeling on the left side, while another man is standing on the right, holding a bowl of water. The background features several figures, including angels and people, with a tree and a body of water visible behind them. The painting is done in pen, black ink, and gray wash on laid paper, giving it a sense of depth and texture. The use of gray wash adds a subtle, muted tone to the overall piece. The Renaissance style is evident in the classical poses and facial expressions of the figures, as well as the use of chiaroscuro to create a sense of volume and depth. To learn more about the artistic techniques used in this painting, explore the technique of cross-hatching.

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