ملف:Giotto - Scrovegni - -23- - Baptism of Christ.jpg

(b. 1267, Vespignano, d. 1337, Firenze)

No. 23 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 7. Baptism of Christ 1304-06 Fresco, 200 x 185 cm (without decoration) Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

The very high quality of parts of the Baptism of Christ becomes evident if we consider the awe-inspiring face of Christ, the skilful foreshortening of God the Father, and the masterly execution of the heads of John the Baptist and the two disciples behind him. However, the water in which Christ stands is painted completely irrationally since if it rises to his navel it should cover part of the rocks and at least the feet of the other figures. This strange river has its origins in a deeply rooted iconographical convention which could be considered emblematic of the medieval artist's inability to "see" the reality of this world (or, if we prefer, of his desire to abstract that reality). We do not know if this inconsistency is a result of an oversight on the part of the artist, if it was imposed on him by his patron, or if it represents a surrender to iconographic tradition in order to avoid showing Christ completely nude. At all events, it demonstrates that Giotto was still capable of being influenced by the conventions of medieval painting.

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Author: GIOTTO di Bondone Title: No. 23 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 7. Baptism of Christ Time-line: 1301-1350 School: Italian Form: painting