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Description: | The artist of this painting has blended elements of different Italian schools to create a devotional image of the Holy Family and John the Baptist. Mary, Joseph and the Christ child are all depicted, and the Baptist (also shown as a little boy) holds an unfurled scroll which reads Ecco Agnus Dei' (Here is the Lamb of God'). John was related to Christ by blood, but his function in this painting is to refer the viewer to his later role. The New Testament tells that John recognised Jesus as the Messiah when Christ came to him for baptism. At the moment of Christ's baptism, a voice from heaven was heard to say, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased' (Matthew 3:17, King James Version). Through John, Christ was publicly hailed as the Messiah. The artist has relied on a series of well-known symbols, including the scroll and the children depicted, as well as the viewer's understanding of Christian history to paint a sentimental and marketable religious' scene. | Subjects: | religion (Holy Family and John the Baptist) | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Artist: Italian School Æ Attributed to | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=8609... | Go to resource |
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