
This piece illustrates a scene from the New Testament in which Jesus was baptized. The beam of light symbolizes the Holy Spirit, which descended “like a dove” upon Christ (Matthew 3:16). Lorenzo Scott painted Saint John and one of the angels as black people, linking the faith of his community to John’s mission to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Matthew 3:3).
- Title
-
Baptism of Jesus
- Artist
- Date
- 1987
- Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 48 1⁄8 x 48 1⁄8 in. (122.3 x 122.3 cm.)
- Credit Line
-
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Gift of Jane and Bert Hunecke
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- oil on canvas
- Classifications
- Keywords
-
- Religion – New Testament – Christ
- Landscape – mountain
- Religion – New Testament – baptism of Christ
- Religion – angel
- Animal – bird – dove
- Landscape – river
- Object Number
-
1994.52
- Palette
- Linked Open Data
- Linked Open Data URI