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LOT 35147862

Italian school, Circle of Raphael de Sanzio

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DESCRIPTION

Italian school, Circle of RAFAEL DE SANZIO (Urbino, 1483 - Rome, 1520); 16th century.
"Saint John the Baptist.
Oil on panel.
It presents faults in the painting and repainting.
Measurements: 127 x 95 cm.
This painting is based on a work of Raphael, known as Saint John in the desert, whose copy is in the Uffizi Gallery and was carried out around 1518-1520, probably by the cardinal Colnna. A young shepherd boy with a classicist appearance, summarily dressed in a large cloak in which the artist has imitated the fur of a feline, is located in the foreground, seated next to some trunks, in front of a closed background that is open on the right. Despite the fact that he is depicted as a beardless man, when he usually has long, shaggy beards, there are various attributes that allow us to identify the figure as Saint John the Baptist. Firstly, the clothes. In addition, the figure points with his left hand to a broad staff, topped in the shape of a cross, while in his right hand he holds a phylactery on which can be read "Agnus dei ...", a reference to the phrase "This is the Lamb of God who cleanses the sin of the world". The lamb, a symbol of Christ and his sacrifice on behalf of mankind, a common attribute of St John the Baptist, is not found in this work. The saint, on the other hand, looks directly at the viewer, thus establishing a connection. The artist is probably inspired by classical images of the "Good Shepherd", bucolic figures of young shepherds tending their flocks which were adopted in early Christianity as symbolic figures of Jesus caring for his faithful. This inspiration from classical sources may explain John's youthful, beardless appearance.
John the Baptist was the son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, cousin of the Virgin Mary. He retired at a very young age to the Judean desert to lead an ascetic life and preach penance, and recognised in Jesus, who was baptised by him, the Messiah foretold by the prophets. A year after Christ's baptism, in the year 29, John was arrested and imprisoned by the tetrarch of Galilee Herod Antipas, whose marriage to Herodias, his niece and sister-in-law, he had dared to censure. Finally St. John was beheaded, and his head given to Salome as a reward for his beautiful dances. This saint appears in Christian art in two different guises: as a child, a playmate of Jesus, and as an adult, a preacher.

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Time, Location
12 Dec 2022
Spain, Barcelona
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[ translate ]

DESCRIPTION

Italian school, Circle of RAFAEL DE SANZIO (Urbino, 1483 - Rome, 1520); 16th century.
"Saint John the Baptist.
Oil on panel.
It presents faults in the painting and repainting.
Measurements: 127 x 95 cm.
This painting is based on a work of Raphael, known as Saint John in the desert, whose copy is in the Uffizi Gallery and was carried out around 1518-1520, probably by the cardinal Colnna. A young shepherd boy with a classicist appearance, summarily dressed in a large cloak in which the artist has imitated the fur of a feline, is located in the foreground, seated next to some trunks, in front of a closed background that is open on the right. Despite the fact that he is depicted as a beardless man, when he usually has long, shaggy beards, there are various attributes that allow us to identify the figure as Saint John the Baptist. Firstly, the clothes. In addition, the figure points with his left hand to a broad staff, topped in the shape of a cross, while in his right hand he holds a phylactery on which can be read "Agnus dei ...", a reference to the phrase "This is the Lamb of God who cleanses the sin of the world". The lamb, a symbol of Christ and his sacrifice on behalf of mankind, a common attribute of St John the Baptist, is not found in this work. The saint, on the other hand, looks directly at the viewer, thus establishing a connection. The artist is probably inspired by classical images of the "Good Shepherd", bucolic figures of young shepherds tending their flocks which were adopted in early Christianity as symbolic figures of Jesus caring for his faithful. This inspiration from classical sources may explain John's youthful, beardless appearance.
John the Baptist was the son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, cousin of the Virgin Mary. He retired at a very young age to the Judean desert to lead an ascetic life and preach penance, and recognised in Jesus, who was baptised by him, the Messiah foretold by the prophets. A year after Christ's baptism, in the year 29, John was arrested and imprisoned by the tetrarch of Galilee Herod Antipas, whose marriage to Herodias, his niece and sister-in-law, he had dared to censure. Finally St. John was beheaded, and his head given to Salome as a reward for his beautiful dances. This saint appears in Christian art in two different guises: as a child, a playmate of Jesus, and as an adult, a preacher.

Bid express will allow you to bid directly through this page without confirmation or the invoice prior to bid.

[ translate ]
Estimate
Unlock
Time, Location
12 Dec 2022
Spain, Barcelona
Auction House
Unlock