St John the Baptist

In this icon, John the Baptist is shown full length-facing the viewer, against a featureless gold background. Various artistic details allow us to infer details about the period and maker of the work: St John’s unkempt hair and beard are depicted in the stylised manner typically adopted for paintings of the Baptist by Cretan artists. The presence of areas of lighter tone on his face, suggesting paler skin, was a technique introduced into post-Byzantine paintings.

Artist / Maker
Unknown artist or workshop, possibly Cretan
Type
painting
Date
Probably the second half of the sixteenth century
Origin
Given to the Society in 1938 by Gordon McNeil Rushford FSA.
Material
Egg tempera and gold leaf over gesso on canvas and wood
Dimensions
51.1 x 36cm
Location
Burlington House