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The Baptism of Christ

1773
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 626
In 1773 Nicolás Enríquez created this set of five paintings for the private devotional use of Juan Bautista Echeverría, a Spanish-born merchant. Echeverría’s choice of subject matter is highly personal, reflecting both his Basque roots and his extended residence in Mexico. Enríquez lavished special attention on this painting of Echeverría’s namesake, Saint John, who is shown baptizing Christ in the Jordan. The painter took care to detail the crystalline drops of water poured on Christ’s head and to show his feet submerged in the flowing water of the river. An inscription avows that the image was painted "due to the devotion" of its owner.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Baptism of Christ
  • Artist: Nicolás Enríquez (Mexican, 1704–1790)
  • Date: 1773
  • Culture: Mexican
  • Medium: Oil on copper
  • Dimensions: 22 1/4 × 16 1/2 in. (56.5 × 41.9 cm)
    Framed: 25 1/4 × 19 3/4 × 1 1/2 in. (64.1 × 50.2 × 3.8 cm)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest and several members of The Chairman's Council Gifts, 2014
  • Object Number: 2014.171
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
The Virgin of Guadalupe with the Four Apparitions, Nicolás Enríquez Mexican, Oil on copper, Mexican
The Virgin of Guadalupe with the Four Apparitions
Nicolás Enríquez
1773
The Marriage of the Virgin, José Sánchez Mexican, Oil on canvas, Mexican
The Marriage of the Virgin
José Sánchez
ca. 1690
The Backgammon Players, Philip Webb British, Painted pine, oil paint on leather, brass, copper, British
The Backgammon Players
Designer Philip Webb
Manufacturer Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co.
Painted by Sir Edward Burne-Jones
1861
Crown of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Crown of the Andes, Gold, repoussé and chased; emeralds, Colombian; Popayán
Crown of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Crown of the Andes
Colombian; Popayán
Ca. 1660 (diadem) and ca. 1770 (arches)
The Virgin of El Camino with St. Fermín and St. Saturnino, Nicolás Enríquez Mexican, Oil on copper, Mexican
The Virgin of El Camino with St. Fermín and St. Saturnino
Nicolás Enríquez
1773

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