All sects of Christian religion used Baptism and as such it made a suitable choice for painters from every generation, particularly Renaissance where religious paintings were especially common and of high quality and imagination. This article examines a little of the history behind Renaissance Christ baptism paintings and offers up some of the better ones made during this era. Alongside the likes of resurrection, crucifixion, god and virgin Mary and child, baptism retains it's status as an iconic subject for religious artists.
Whilst Christians are together on the use of baptism, some disagree on when it should take place in a person's life. In general it is believed to be best done as soon as is possible in order to distinguish any original sins, but most paintings of Christ's baptism show him as a fully grown man, in a ceremony carried out by St John. Popularity has grown in baptism as a subject for art due to how it can so clearly and easily symbolise the power of Christianity to redeem and forgive.
The famous Renaissance artists who created well-known baptism paintings of Christ are also commonly respected for their depictions of other common Christian subjects. El Greco's original style helped create the respected Baptism of Christ in 1596-1600, with extraordinary detail. Other works by David Gerard, Piero della Francesca and Giovanni Bellini each offer their own versions of the same, sometimes adding angels or doves for a particular atmosphere.
Oil paintings of Christ's baptism offer the power of symbolism to Renaissance art and are worth studying in order to discover how each of the famous artists of the time sought to portray this iconic picture.
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