Painted in minute detail, cranach’s majestic scene includes elements characteristic of landscapes in 16th-century german art: verdant forest, hilltop city, and distant mountains. A close associate of protestant reformer martin luther, cranach adapted christian imagery to reflect luther’s belief that religious art must narrate scripture. The gospels describe christ’s baptism with the heavens opening, a dove descending, and a voice saying, “here is my beloved son, with whom i am well pleased,” which cranach painted in latin directly onto the clouds. Object Type: painting. Genre: religious art. Date: 1530. Place of creation: Germany, 16th century. Dimensions: Framed: 24.4 x 29.2 x 5.1 cm (9 5/8 x 11 1/2 x 2 in.); Unframed: 15 x 20.5 cm (5 7/8 x 8 1/16 in.). Medium: oil on panel. Depicted People: Jesus, John the Baptist. Collection: Cleveland Museum of Art. Clevelandart 1953.143
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