The Baptism of Christ

1518 - 1519. Oil on panel.
Room 049

This panel by Machuca -one of the painters responsible for introducing Italian art into Spain- is one of the few works definitely known to have been painted during his time in Rome (c. 1507-20). The clearly-defined, rounded anatomies of Christ and Saint John the Baptist owe much to models by Michelangelo and Raphael in the Vatican, though remaining faithful to Machuca´s particular, eclectic style. The light, bright colours serve to highlight the two central figures in this New Testament scene, heralding some of the master´s later works.

See work in timeline

RDF

Multimedia

Video

Commented works: The Virgin and the Souls of Purgatory, Pedro Machuca (1517)

See more multimedia content

Technical data

Clic para ampliar

Inventory number: P008503
Author: Pedro Machuca
Title: The Baptism of Christ
Date: 1518 - 1519
Technique: Oil
Support: Panel
Dimension: Height: 99.7 cm; Width: 71.2 cm
Provenance: Fischer Gallery, Lucerne, Switzerland, 1939-1974; Christie's, London; acquired by the Prado Museum with its own funds, 2024
Entry date: 2024

Bibliography +

Dacos, Nicole, 'Pedro Machuca en Italie', Scritti di Storia dell'Arte in onore di Federico Zeri, Milán, 1984, pp. 332-361 [ver p.332].

Leone de Castris, Pierluigi, Pittura del Cinquecento a Napoli. 1510-1540 Forastieri e Regnicoli. l, Electa Napoli, 1988, pp. 44.

Campos Pallarés, Liliana, Pedro Machuca en Italia y en España: su presencia y huella en la pintura granadina del Quinientos, Editorial Universidad de Jaén,, 2021, pp. 123-124 nº.10.

Bisceglia, Anna, 'Pedro Machuca. La Sagrada Familia', Otro Renacimiento: artistas españoles en Nápoles a comienzos del Cinquecento, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, 2022, pp. 254-256 [256 nt.11].

Christie's London: [catálogo de subastas]., Christie's London, 2024 21 de noviembre, pp. lote 112.

Ruiz Gómez, Leticia, 'Pedro Machuca. Bautismo de Cristo', Museo Nacional del Prado. Memoria de actividades 2024, Madrid, 2025, pp. 36-38.