Description
The painting Sermon of St John the Baptist, created by the artist Hans III Jordeens, is a masterpiece of Flemish Baroque art dating from the 17th century. The painting represents the moment when Saint John the Baptist preaches to a crowd in the desert, with a large number of people gathered around him to listen to his teachings.
Jordeens' artistic style is evident in the painting, with his ability to capture the emotion and intensity of the scene. The composition is impressive, with the central figure of Saint John the Baptist in the foreground, surrounded by a crowd of people in a desert landscape. Jordeens uses the chiaroscuro technique to give depth and dimension to the scene, and his use of color is vibrant and full of life.
The history of the painting is fascinating, as it was commissioned by the Confraternity of Saint John the Baptist in Antwerp in the 17th century. The painting was kept in the cofradía church for over 200 years before being sold to a private collector. It was rediscovered in the 1960s and carefully restored for display in museums around the world.
There are little-known aspects of the painting that make it even more interesting, such as the presence of several minor characters in the crowd that are believed to be portraits of members of the cofradía that commissioned the work. Furthermore, the figure of Saint John the Baptist in the painting is very similar to the figure of Christ in another work by the same artist, suggesting that Jordeens used the same model for both paintings.
In summary, the painting Sermon of St John the Baptist by Hans III Jordeens is a masterpiece of Flemish Baroque art that stands out for its artistic style, composition, color, and the fascinating story behind its creation and preservation over time.