San Giovanni Battista 1500

Filippino Lippi's "San Giovanni Battista" (1500) depicts the biblical figure of John the Baptist in a naturalistic and detailed manner, characteristic of the Early Renaissance. His body is rendered in a realistic, almost anatomical way, with the figure's gaunt frame emphasized by the stark contrast between his lean physique and the voluminous crimson drapery. John's contemplative gaze, holding a staff topped with a cross, conveys his profound religious devotion. Lippi's mastery of chiaroscuro, the play of light and shadow, adds depth and dimensionality to the composition, placing the figure within a distinct architectural space.