Saint John the Baptist 1838 - 1848

Gioan Battista Nocchi created this engraving of Saint John the Baptist sometime in the 1800s. During this period, religious art was harnessed to reinforce particular social and moral values. Here, John is depicted as a beautiful, youthful, almost androgynous figure. The sensuality of the saint’s exposed chest and the soft curls of his hair depart from traditional depictions of John as an older, ascetic figure. The inclusion of the lamb and cross act as symbols of sacrifice, but they are in contrast with his gentle, youthful beauty. Is the artist attempting to make the idea of religious devotion more enticing, particularly to younger viewers? Or is he attempting to grapple with his own notions of beauty, desire, and devotion? Maybe it’s both, leaving us to ponder the complex interplay between religious iconography, idealized beauty, and personal expression in 19th-century art.