The Baptism of Christ is one of the most celebrated works of art painting by the Italian Renaissance master Piero della Francesca. It is held by The National Gallery, London and depicts the figure of Christ being baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Although scholars have proposed different estimates for when it was painted, both 1442 and 1470 have been put forward.
Piero Della Francesca was born in Borgo San Sepolcro in 1415 and went on to become one of the greatest painters during Renaissance Italy. His painting The Baptism of Christ shows his signature style featuring soft combinations of blues and browns, with figures that seem motionless against a serene background.
This work depicts a fundamental moment in Christianity; it’s no surprise that its composition has been copied and reinterpreted so many times throughout history. In this masterpiece, Piero introduces his distinctive style which he further develops two decades later in The Resurrection, another highly acclaimed painting completed in 1463.
