The baptism of Christ c. 1560 - 1565

This is Maarten van Heemskerck's oil painting on panel, The Baptism of Christ, now in the Rijksmuseum collection. Made in the Netherlands during the 16th century, the painting speaks to the religious and artistic climate of the time. In this scene, the artist uses classical and idealized figures reminiscent of Italian Renaissance art. Yet, the underlying theme reflects the religious fervor of the Reformation. Look at the landscape, echoing the style of the Italian Renaissance but populated with northern European figures who are witnessing the event. This reflects the cultural tensions of the Netherlands at that time, where the influence of the Italian Renaissance was strong, but where there was also increasing religious tension. It is a work that straddles the line between tradition and a changing world. To understand this painting more fully, we might turn to period writings on religious reform and the cultural exchange between Italy and Northern Europe, which give context to the painting's place within a society undergoing profound transformation.