The Baptism of Christ
Medium
Pen and brown ink, heightened with white, on beige paper
Dimensions
18 1/8 x 12 3/8 in. (46.1 x 31.4 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Van Day Truex Fund, 1993
Accession Number
1993.274
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Baptism of Christ* (1683), a captivating drawing by French artist Raymond de La Fage1653–1720). Crafted in pen and brown ink heightened with white on beige paper, this 18 1/8 x 12 3/8-inch sheet exemplifies the Baroque era's dramatic flair. De La Fage, a figure in Languedoc's art scene, drew inspiration from Italian masters, blending fluid lines and bold contrasts to evoke spiritual intensity. The composition centers on the biblical scene of Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, featuring dynamic male nudes that highlight the human form's grace and divinity. Th...