The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows

Q: When was "The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1514–15.

Q: Is "The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows" in the public domain?

Yes, The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Bernard van Orley

ca. 1514–15

Medium

Oil on wood

Dimensions

25 × 30 in. (63.5 × 76.2 cm)

Classification

Paintings

Department

European Paintings

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Bequest of Hertha Katz, 2000

Accession Number

2001.216.3

Tags

InteriorsMenWomenPeacocksSaint John the BaptistInfantsBeds

Art Historical Context

Bernard van Orley, leading Antwerp painter of the early 16th, created this double-sided panel around 1514–15, bridging Northern Renaissance traditions with emerging Italian influences. The front depicts *The Birth and Naming of John the Baptist*, a scene set in a richly detailed domestic interior. Elizabeth cradles the infant saint on an ornate bed, surrounded by attendants, while a striking peacock—symbolizing immortality and resurrection—struts nearby, adding layers of Christian allegory to the intimate family moment. The reverse features a masterful *trompe-l'oeil* illusion: a faux parchme...

The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows

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