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Martin Schongauer

The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan

c. 1480–90
engraving

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In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of July 2026

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FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Christ wades in the Jordan River to be blessed by John the Baptist, whose left hand rests on a book of scripture, signifying the fulfillment of prophecy. Overhead, the Spirit of God approvingly descends in the form of a dove. Schongauer’s engraved lines inventively emulate different natural qualities and textures, for example the fur of John’s robe, the figures’ spiraling locks of hair, and the stippled wings of the angel.

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