The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, Martin Schongauer, 1475

Christ wades in the jordan river to be blessed by john the baptist, whose left hand rests on a book of scripture, signifying the fulfillment of prophecy. Overhead, the spirit of god approvingly descends in the form of a dove. Schongauer’s engraved lines inventively emulate different natural qualities and textures, for example the fur of john’s robe, the figures’ spiraling locks of hair, and the stippled wings of the angel. Date: 1475. Place of creation: Germany, 15th century. Medium: engraving. Collection: Cleveland Museum of Art. Martin Schongauer - The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan - 1952.78 - Cleveland Museum of Art