Rogier van der Weyden aka Rogier de la Pasture (1399-1464), St John the Baptist Altarpiece, central panel The Baptism of Christ (1455).

One of the more famous Flemish painters of his time, his works were known through Europe. He was the student f the famed Robert Campin aka Master of Flemalle. Van der Weyden’s presentation of St. John the Baptist shows a much younger person than his portrait of 1450 (See below). The Christ gently holds a loincloth wrapped about his hips while an angel holds an outer garment to cover the Christ as he exits the water.

Guido Reni (1575-1642), Baptism of Christ (1622).

Having studied with Ludovico Carracci, Reni is known as a master of the High Baroque. The dramatic moment is captured as the Dove of the Holy Spirit descends on to the humble Christ at the moment of his baptism. Three angels wait in the middle ground with the robes to cover the Christ, who awaits the water white loin cloth wraps about his hips. The quiet standing Christ and the waiting angels is in contrast to the dynamic figure of St. John the Baptist.