Johannes de Doper zittend 1520 - 1561

Battista Franco made this drawing of Saint John the Baptist, using pen and brown ink, sometime between 1510 and 1561. During Franco’s time, religious art often served as a powerful tool for both spiritual contemplation and the propagation of specific ideologies. Here, Saint John is depicted not as a regal figure but as an ordinary man, connecting religious narratives to the everyday lives of viewers. Note the expressiveness in the saint's posture and gaze; Franco captures a sense of introspection. What does it mean to position Saint John in this way? Representations of holy figures during the Renaissance were often used to convey messages about power, morality, and the human condition. As you consider this artwork, what emotions or reflections does it evoke in you? In what ways does it resonate with or challenge your understanding of faith, identity, and human experience?