Saint John the Baptist Preaching

Willem Reuter · c. 1665
National Gallery of Art, Washington

Willem Reuter, a Flemish painter who worked in Rome, painted this canvas around 1665. When it was shown in London in 1965 it was given to Jan Miel, another Fleming in Rome; the National Gallery now lists it under Reuter.

John sits on a rock beneath great trees, one hand raised as he speaks. Around him crowd mothers with children, soldiers in helmets, a rider on a white horse and an old man in a red robe, while on the road to the right more travellers are arriving.

From the text

John “preaching in the wilderness of Judea” (Matthew 3:1)

A garment of camel’s hair with a leather belt (Matthew 3:4)

People coming out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea (Matthew 3:5)

Soldiers among the listeners, asking “And what should we do?” (Luke 3:14)

The artist’s own

A leafy Italian landscape with palm trees instead of a desert

A thin reed cross with a scroll and a lamb at John’s feet — the signs by which painters usually marked him

Listeners in 17th-century dress — feathered caps, turbans, a broad flat hat

A camel and riders passing in the distance

Details

The preacher

John sits on a rock with one hand raised, in a rough fur garment and a red cloth.

Reed cross

A thin cross of reed with a scroll wound round it.

The lamb

A lamb lies at his feet.

Soldiers

Helmeted soldiers with spears and a man on a white horse listen at the back.

Mothers

Two young women hold small children on their laps.

Still coming

On the road a young man points an old traveller towards the crowd.

Willem Reuter, Flemish, c. 1642–1681. National Gallery of Art, Washington (Gift of Joseph F. McCrindle, 2004.101.3) · Oil on canvas · NGA Open Access: "Images of these works are available free of charge for any use, commercial or non-commercial, under Creative Commons Zero (CC0)." (NGA open data: published_images.csv openaccess = 1)

The verses

Matt 3:1–5In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.

Luke 3:10–14The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”