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Polychrome Carved Wood Figure St John Baptist
RIJNLAAND, 15TH CENTURY
High 100cm., overall
Polychrome Carved Wood Figure St John Baptist, Polychrome Carved Wood Figure of St John the Baptist; depicted standing with his right foot forward and holding a book surmounted by a lamb in his left hand; on an integrally carved naturalistic base; with the original polychrome.
Reference:
* John the Baptist (Hebrew: יוחנן המטביל, Yoḥanan ha-mmaṭbil, Arabic: يوحنا المعمدان Yuhanna Al-Ma’madan,[5] Aramaic:Ioḥanan, Classical Armenian: Յովհաննէս Մկրտիչ Yovhannēs Mkrtičʿ, Greek: Ὁ Ἅγιος/Τίμιος Ἐνδοξος καὶ Βαπτιστής Ἰωάννης Ho Hágios/Tímios Endoxos, Prophḗtēs, Pródromos, kaì Baptistḗs Ioánnes)[6][7][8][9][10] was an itinerant preacher[11] and a major religious figure[12] in Christianity, Islam,[13] the Bahá’í Faith,[14] and Mandaeism.
John is described as having the unique practice of baptism for the forgiveness of sins.[15] Most scholars agree that John baptized Jesus.[16][17] Scholars generally believe Jesus was a follower or disciple of John[18][19][20] and several New Testament accounts report that some of Jesus’s early followers had previously been followers of John.[21] John the Baptist is also mentioned by Jewish historian Josephus.[22] Some scholars maintain that John was influenced by the semi-ascetic Essenes, who expected an apocalypse and practiced rituals corresponding strongly with baptism,[23] although no direct evidence substantiates this.[24]
According to the New Testament, John anticipated a messianic figure greater than himself,[25] and Jesus was the one whose coming John foretold. Christians commonly refer to John as the precursor or forerunner of Jesus,[26] since John announces Jesus’ coming. John is also identified with the prophet Elijah.[21]
* From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist
