The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
Martin Schongauer (German, c. 1450–1491)
c. 1480–90
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
Prints
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1952.78
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
male
About this artwork
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.