Saint John the Baptist c. 1325

Lippo Memmi’s “Saint John the Baptist,” is presented on a wood panel in tempera and gold. The striking gold ground shimmers, creating a celestial backdrop that emphasizes the figure's spiritual importance. The composition, dominated by the saint’s elongated form, invites contemplation. Memmi's use of line— particularly in the drapery and the saint's flowing hair— adds a rhythmic quality to the piece. The red robe contrasts with the ascetic green camel vest, drawing attention to the texture and materiality of the fabrics. Saint John's scroll is inscribed with a phrase that translates to 'Behold the Lamb of God', directing the viewer to interpret the visual components within a theological framework. The artist employs a semiotic system in which color and object function as signs, pointing to the cultural codes that would have informed the artwork's making and its initial reception. Memmi's work functions aesthetically and as a vital component of religious discourse, continually inviting new interpretation.