O Batismo de Cristo
1604-1605
Rubens turns a solemn religious moment into a bustling, muscular spectacle. Jesus stands humbly in the water while John the Baptist pours water over his head, but look at the chaos around them! A tangle of angels and cherubs swoops down to hold his robe, while on the riverbank, a group of incredibly buff men are stripping off their clothes, seemingly impatient to get baptized next. Painted during his time in Italy around 1604, this early masterpiece showcases the dramatic energy and fleshy, dynamic figures that would define the Baroque style.
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