Dish with John the Baptist

ca. 1715–25

Not on view

Christian symbols appear on Chinese porcelain as early as the early sixteenth century, but this unusually large plate is one of the first known works with a biblical scene. The composition depicting John the Baptist and Christ in the Jordan River is based on a passage from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, as indicated by the inscription ("MAT. 3, 16"). The plate may have been intended for export to Europe or for use by recently converted Christians in China.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Dish with John the Baptist
Date: ca. 1715–25
Culture: Chinese, made for export
Medium: Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under a transparent glaze
Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 3 1/4 × 20 in. (8.3 × 50.8 cm)
Classification: Ceramics-Porcelain-Export
Credit Line: Gift of R. Albuquerque, 2016
Object Number: 2016.166.2
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Small Dish (Kozara) with Three Jars, Porcelain with cobalt blue under transparent glaze and polychrome enamels over the glaze (Hizen ware, Nabeshima type), Japan — Small Dish (Kozara) with Three Jars
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Pipa (琵琶 ), Wood, ivory, bone, silk, Chinese — Pipa (琵琶 )
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late 16th–early 17th century

Dish with Peonies, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under and enamels over transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China — Dish with Peonies
China
mid-17th century

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