Study After Poussin (The Baptism of Christ)
Item
Title
Study After Poussin (The Baptism of Christ)
Creator
John Vanderlyn
American, 1775–1852
American, 1775–1852
Date
c. 1798
Materials
Charcoal on paper
Description
As a young artist, John Vanderlyn lived in Paris from 1796 to 1801. He spent hours in the Louvre Museum, captivated by Old Master history paintings. In this early study, representing the first of the seven sacraments central to Catholicism, St. John baptizes Christ on the banks of the Jordan River. The overall composition owes much to French artist Nicolas Poussin’s two paintings of the same subject from 1641–42 and 1646. However, the number, placement, and posture of the figures diverge from Poussin’s versions. Vanderlyn probably would not have seen either of Poussin’s paintings firsthand since both were then in private collections. He may have been more familiar with copies or prints after Poussin.
Source
The John Driscoll American Drawings Collection
Identifier
2018.204
Rights
This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses may not be permitted.