An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
The Birth and Naming of John the Baptist1496–99
Juan de Flandes
This painting was once a panel from the important five-panel altarpiece commissioned by Queen Isabella for the Carthusian monastery of Miraflores near Burgos, site of the royal tombs of her parents and brother. The altarpiece, of which the other panels survive, was likely painted during the artist’s early employment at the royal court. Typical of Flemish art of the period with its love of naturalistic detail and almost photographic depiction of a domestic interior, this scene suggests a comfortable burgher’s home in 15th-century Ghent or Bruges in which the artist transforms a contemporary setting to frame the story of the birth of John the Baptist. Having just given birth, Elizabeth lies in bed. Nearby, her cousin, the Virgin Mary, presents the newly born child to his elderly father, Zacharias. Having lost his ability to speak when he doubted an angel’s prophecy of the child’s birth, Zacharias writes the chosen name for his son. At this moment, his speech is restored.
Flemish artists are famed for their attention to minute detail. Here the artist paints a domestic setting from his own time period, complete with details like a brazier for heating in the lower right corner and concave mirror above the bed.
oil on wood
Framed: 99 x 60 x 7.5 cm (39 x 23 5/8 x 2 15/16 in.); Unframed: 88.4 x 49.9 cm (34 13/16 x 19 5/8 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In a quiet corner of history, a remarkable scene unfolds beneath the soft glow of a candlelit room. Here, the air is thick with the rich scents of warm wood and freshly woven textiles. This is not just any moment in time; it is the tender birth of John the Baptist, captured forever in the panels of a magnificent altarpiece.
Once upon a time, this artwork was part of a greater ensemble, a five-panel altarpiece commissioned with love and reverence by Queen Isabella for the Carthusian monastery of Miraflores, not far from Burgos. This sacred place housed the royal tombs of her beloved parents and brother — a sanctuary of lineage, memory, and faith.
As the design took shape, the artist poured his heart into every brushstroke, likely during the early days of his tenure at court, where the flickering shadows danced with ambition. His vision drew inspiration from the world around him, reflecting the charm of a 15th-century burgher’s home—a place where hustle met harmony, nestled in the vibrant cities of Ghent or Bruges. The exquisite detail evokes not just an image, but a feeling of everyday life, transforming a simple domestic interior into a divine narrative.
At the center of this serene tableau lies Elizabeth, just having cradled her newborn son in her weary arms, the softness of the moment captured in her gentle smile. Nearby, the Virgin Mary stands, radiant and poised, presenting the child to his father, Zacharias, a man burdened by both great joy and the weight of words unspoken.
In an earlier moment of doubt, Zacharias had lost the gift of speech when he questioned an angel’s revelation of this miraculous birth. Now, with a quill in hand, he writes the name intended for his son—a name heavy with promise and prophecy. As the ink flows onto the parchment, a silent prayer hangs in the air, and in this act of creation, something profound occurs. The shackles of his silence dissolve, and at last, his voice is restored—an ethereal moment imbued with faith reborn.
This painting, a testament to the divine intertwining with the earthly, invites us to linger in its story, wrapped in the warmth of familial love and spiritual awakening. Each detail whispers the sacredness of life, reminding us that, in the quiet moments of our own lives, we too may find restoration and grace.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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