The ''Baptism of Christ'' is an oil painting on canvas executed in 1585 by the

Italian Baroque Italian Baroque (or ''Barocco'') is a stylistic period in Italian history and art that spanned from the late 16th century to the early 18th century. History The early 17th century marked a time of change for those of the Roman Catholic religion ...

painter

Annibale Carracci Annibale Carracci ( , , ; November 3, 1560 – July 15, 1609) was an Italian painter and instructor, active in Bologna and later in Rome. Along with his brother Agostino Carracci, Agostino and cousin Ludovico Carracci, Ludovico (with whom the Ca ...

History of the painting

The work was commissioned in 1583 by Giacomo Canobbi, professor of law at the University of Bologna, for his chapel in the

Santi Gregorio e Siro The church of Santi Gregorio e Siro is a Renaissance architecture, Renaissance-style Roman Catholic parish church on Via Montegrappa 15 in central Bologna, Italy. Initially this was the Church of San Gregorio, but when the nearby parish church of ...

. He was licensed in 1585, the date that appears on the canvas. This is the second public commission obtained by Annibale after the ''Crucifixion'' of 1583, now in the

Santa Maria della Carità, Bologna Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring gifts during the ...

.The Baptism is the only

altarpiece An altarpiece is a painting or sculpture, including relief, of religious subject matter made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting or sculpture, ...

made by the most famous of the Carracci before his move to Rome to have remained in its original location.

Description

The Baptism is the first important manifestation of the rediscovery of Correggio who, between 1584 and 1587, occupied the artistic interests of Annibale Carracci. The influence of Correggio is particularly evident in the upper part of the altarpiece, occupied by a choir of angel musicians, supported by material clouds, in the centre of which the Eternal Father appears. This part of the composition derives from Correggio's frescoes painted for the dome of Parma Cathedral. The lower part of the painting, where the main event takes place, instead, seems to be still linked to the late Mannerist style then dominant among Bolognese painters. This can be seen above all from the artificiality of the poses of some of the characters depicted and especially from that of the

catechumen Catechesis (; from Greek: , "instruction by word of mouth", generally "instruction") is basic Christian religious education of children and adults, often from a catechism book. It started as education of converts to Christianity, but as the ...

on the left - which shows the Lord taking off his shirt to be baptized in turn - whose twisting is strongly unnatural. In general, there is a fracture between the two parts of the canvas (also highlighted by the different luministic setting of the two sections) which is probably an indication of the uncertainties and the results of the young Annibale's research still in progress. In the composition, in addition to the depiction of Baptism, there is a reference to the mystery of the

Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...

: the Father, the dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, the Son, are aligned on the middle axis of the painting. The Trinitarian allusion is echoed by the gesture of the onlooker's hand on the left (in a red coat) indicating the number three. The Canobbi chapel, in fact, was dedicated to both the Baptist and the Trinity. Already in this first important example of Carracci's attention to the art of Allegri we can see Hannibal's effort to update the style: the angelic choir at the top, though derived from Correggio, is characterized by its domestic spirit, "almost a concertino staged ..like a family celebration". According to

Malvasia Malvasia (), also known as Malvazia, is a group of wine grape varieties grown historically in the Mediterranean region and Macaronesia, but now grown in many of the winemaking regions of the world. In the past, the names Malvasia, Malvazia, ...

, for this second public commission, Annibale would have availed himself of the help of his more experienced cousin Ludovico.

Gallery

File:Annibale Carracci Battesimo di Cristo chiesa Santi Siro Gregorio Bologna.jpg, The ''Baptism'' in the church of

in Bologna

References

{{Annibale Carracci 1585 paintings Paintings by Annibale Carracci Paintings in Bologna

Carracci The Carracci ( , , {{IPA, it, karˈrattʃi, lang) were a family of Italian artists. Notable members include: * the three members who worked together and are known collectively as the Carracci, i.e.: ** Agostino Carracci (1557–1602), Italian pa ...

God the Father in art Altarpieces Musical instruments in art