Saint John the Baptist Preaching 1695

Luca Giordano painted "Saint John the Baptist Preaching," sometime in the 17th century, using oil on canvas. The painting depicts a biblical scene, which would have been very familiar to its contemporary audience. But how would an image like this function socially? The image creates meaning through visual codes. The halo is an obvious signifier. The semi-nakedness would have been read as a sign of his asceticism, of rejecting earthly comforts. Giordano was from Naples, then under Spanish rule, where the Catholic Church was a powerful institution and images played an important role in shaping religious belief. Church leaders believed art should inspire piety and instruct the faithful. Giordano's painting, with its vivid figures and dramatic lighting, would have served that purpose. Art historians consult biblical texts, theological treatises, and historical accounts to understand how images like this were used in their own time. The meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is made and viewed.