Saint John the Baptist. Etching attributed to G.B. Fontana.

  • Fontana, Giovanni Battista, 1524-1587.
Date:
1500-1599
Reference:
6235i
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Credit

Saint John the Baptist. Etching attributed to G.B. Fontana. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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About this work

Description

Saint John the Baptist was the son of Saint Elizabeth, a relative (Greek "syngenis") of the Virgin. He was therefore a relative of Jesus Christ. His father was Zacharias. He is often depicted wearing camel's hair; with a lamb, referring to his description of Christ as the "Lamb of God"; with a cross of reeds held sometimes by him and sometimes by the lamb; and pointing with his index finger, to indicate his role as annunciator of Christ. His martyrdom by decapitation led to his being invoked especially against diseases associated with the head, such as migraine, epilepsy ("le mal Saint-Jean") and quinsy

Publication/Creation

1500-1599

Physical description

1 print

References note

Adam von Bartsch, Le peintre graveur, vol. XVII, Vienna 1817, p. 200, Théodore Philippe Liano no. 1 ("1. l. St. Jean préchant dans le désert. Le Saint debout au milieu de l'estampe sur une colline, prêchant devant une troupe de peuple assemblé au bas de cette colline. On remarque sur le devant à droite deux hommes appuyés sur une pierre carrée qui causent ensemble. Dans le fond à gauche on voit une ville, et à droite une compagnie de cavaliers armés de toutes pièces. Cette superbe estampe est ce que l'on a de plus considérable de notre artiste. Ceux qui en attribuent l'invention et la gravure à Jean Baptiste Fontana, sont en erreur. Hauteur : 18 p. 6 lign. Largeur : 14 p. 9 lign.")

Reference

Wellcome Collection 6235i

Creator/production credits

Despite the disapproval of Bartsch (loc. cit.), the print is attributed to Fontana in various catalogues

Type/Technique

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