Narrator: Leaning out over the crowd hanging on his every word, St John the Baptist gestures urgently toward a ray of light splitting the stormy sky. According to the Biblical New Testament, John foretold the coming of Jesus Christ, son of God. Chief Curator Emily Beeny:

Emily Beeny: There's a real theatricality to the lighting, to the positioning of the viewer, to the billow of the draperies, to the dramatic movement of St. John's body. I think really some of these effects are quite literally borrowed from the theater. 

Narrator: John’s astounding message is shown by his finger, pointing up to heaven. And the banner on his staff announces in Latin: “Behold the Lamb of God”. Christ, whose life would be sacrificed to redeem his followers, is often represented by a lamb. A real lamb held by someone in the crowd emphasizes the symbolism. The painting makes us feel like we’re part of that crowd. 

Emily Beeny: It's really a picture that wants to sweep us up into its action.

Narrator: Made by Italian artist Mattia Preti around 1665, it’s a wonderful example of Baroque art, full of drama and emotion. Art was often used as a powerful tool by the Catholic church at this time to fight back against the spread of Protestantism.

Emily Beeny: The desire of the Catholic Church to enlist the senses of the faithful in spiritual experience - this is a picture that responds to that new mandate, to make us feel as though we are physically in the presence of this holy figure.