Italy / c. 1505
Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Saint John the Baptist as print (Italy · c. 1505).
WHY IT’S INTERESTING
The small bowl held by the saint signifies his role as baptizer of Christ.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this print as engraving and credits Giulio Campagnola (Italian, 1482–1515).
The museum's collection notes: Slender and weathered from preaching in the wilderness where he lived on locusts and wild honey, John the Baptist carries a bowl of water, symbolizing his role as the baptizer of Christ. In this print, Campagnola combined engraved lines with his innovative stipple technique, in which tiny dots softly shade the surface of the saint’s body and produce the hazy atmosphere of the rustic landscape.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtSaint John the BaptistOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.