St. John the Baptist in the Wilderness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. John the Baptist in the Wilderness |
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| Artist | Hieronymus Bosch |
| Year | c. 1489 |
| Type | Oil |
| Dimensions | 48.5 cm × 40 cm (19.1 in × 16 in) |
| Location | Museum of Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid |
St. John the Baptist in the Wilderness is an oil painting by the famous artist Hieronymus Bosch. He painted it around the year 1489. This artwork shows John the Baptist in a wild, natural setting.
A Spanish art collector named Lázaro Galdiano bought the painting in 1913. Today, you can see it at the Lázaro Galdiano Museum in Madrid, Spain. It is a special piece because of its unique style and interesting details.
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About the Painting
This painting might have been part of a larger artwork. It seems to be a pair with another painting called St. John the Evangelist on Patmos, which is now in Berlin. Experts first noticed this connection in the 1940s.
Part of an Altarpiece?
It is thought that these two paintings might have been the side panels of an altarpiece. An altarpiece is a large artwork placed behind the altar in a church. This specific altarpiece might have been made for St. John's Cathedral, 's-Hertogenbosch. This church is in the Netherlands, where Bosch lived.
When Was It Painted?
It is hard to know the exact date Bosch painted this work. If it was indeed for the 's-Hertogenbosch cathedral, then it was likely painted around 1489. However, some experts suggest it could have been painted a bit later based on other clues.
Symbolism in the Artwork
John the Baptist is often shown with a lamb in paintings. This lamb can mean a few things. It might stand for John's sacrifice as an innocent person. Or, it could mean that John is pointing towards Jesus Christ. Jesus is often called the "Lamb of God" in the Bible.
Bosch's Unique Style
Hieronymus Bosch's painting is different from other artworks of John the Baptist. He added strange and imaginary objects to his wilderness scene. These unusual details make his paintings very special and fun to look at. They show his unique way of seeing the world.
See also
In Spanish: San Juan Bautista en meditación para niños
- List of paintings by Hieronymus Bosch
