Saint John the Baptist Preaching c. 17th century

Curator: This drawing, "Saint John the Baptist Preaching," is attributed to an anonymous artist and resides in the Harvard Art Museums. It’s executed on a relatively small scale, about 27 by 20 centimeters. Editor: The sketch gives an impression of dynamism, doesn't it? The Baptist's pose is so full of motion, it almost feels like he's about to leap right out of the image. Curator: Indeed! The figure of John, rendered in ink, embodies the archetype of the prophet, his raised hand a classic symbol of divine proclamation. Editor: And that garment draped across his body seems intentionally placed, both concealing and revealing, which certainly plays into historical notions of sanctity and the body. Who was this Baptist figure supposed to be for? Curator: It's hard to be certain of the artist's intentions, but figures like John often function to legitimize power, or call on others to challenge power. Editor: It all raises so many questions about how visual rhetoric shaped, and continues to shape, our understanding of religious figures.