The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 19, 2024
John the Baptist
c. 1410
(Netherlandish, 1375/79–1444)
Framed: 25 x 20 x 3 cm (9 13/16 x 7 7/8 x 1 3/16 in.); Unframed: 17.3 x 11.6 cm (6 13/16 x 4 9/16 in.)
Location: 112 Northern Renaissance
Description
According to tradition, John the Baptist wears a hair shirt under a white cloth, associated with newly baptized Christians. The flag bearing a red cross symbolizes resurrection. In marked contrast, the background features a lavish gold-patterned silk. The display of such luxurious fabrics continues an ancient tradition of using the finest objects in the worship of God. This painting has been cut down along the lower edge and would have originally shown a full-length image of the saint. It was probably the right wing of a triptych, with John the Baptist gazing upon a central image of the Virgin and Child. Campin first settled in Tournai around 1405-6 as a free master of the guild of painters, and he bought citizenship there in 1410, which suggests he was born elsewhere. Although heavily indebted to contemporary masters of manuscript illumination, Campin displayed greater powers of realistic observation than any other painter before him. He was one of the first artists to experiment with the use of oil-based colors, in lieu of egg-based tempera, to achieve the brilliant color typical of this period.- The Dukes of Clermont-Tonnerre; by descent, Nettancourt-Vaubecourt, Château Choiseul; Le Molt collection, Bourbonne-les-Bains; (Christie's London sale, June 26, 1964, no. 44); (Thomas P. Grange, London, 1966)
- The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 66 archive.orgThe Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 66 archive.orgCleveland Museum of Art. Catalogue of Paintings. Pt. 1. European Paintings before 1500. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1974. Reproduced: fig. 52, p. 146 - 149; colorplate, XXVThe Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 75 archive.orgFliegel, Stephen N., Sophie Jugie, and Virginie Barthélémy. Art from the Court of Burgundy: The Patronage of Philip the Bold and John the Fearless 1364-1419 : Musée Des Beaux-Arts De Dijon, May 28-September 15, 2004, the Cleveland Museum of Art, October 24, 2004-January 9, 2005. [Dijon]: Musée des beaux-arts, 2004. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 351-352, no. 136Cleveland Museum of Art. The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2014. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 273
- Die Geburt der Modern Malerei: Robert Campin, der Meister von Flemalle und Rogier van der Weyden. Das Städel, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (November 21, 2008-February 22, 2009); Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie, Germany (March 20-June 21, 2009).Das Städel, Frankfurt am Main (11/21/2008 - 2/22/2009) and Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie (3/20/2009 - 6/21/2009): "Die Geburt der Modern Malerei: Robert Campin, der Meister von Flemalle und Rogier van der Weyden", ex. cat. no. 1, p. 181.Dijon, Musée des Beaux-Arts of Dijon (May 28-September 15, 2004); The Cleveland Museum of Art (October 24, 2004-January 9, 2005) "Dukes and Angels: Art from the Court of Burgundy (1364-1419)."exh.cat.no.136, p.351, repr.p.352.Dukes and Angels: Art from the Court of Burgundy (1364-1419). Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon, Dijon, France (May 27-September 15, 2004); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 24, 2004-January 9, 2005).CMA 1966: Golden Anniversary Acquisitions, cat. no. 58, repr. p. 179.
- {{cite web|title=John the Baptist|url=false|author=Robert Campin|year=c. 1410|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1966.238