Christ baptising Saint John Martyr

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

A young man kneels in a prison cell, wearing the robes and horned cap of a doge (the elected head of the Venetian state). On the ground are wooden stocks and heavy chains with manacles from which he has just been freed. Christ empties a cup over the young man's bowed head. Two angels arrive holding towels and one carries a ceramic jug. Another angel with keys appears in the darkened arch to the right.It was once thought that this painting showed Christ anointing a doge of Venice in prison. In fact, the young man is Neanias, a duke of Alexandria who later became Saint John, a Christian martyr. Neanias was made duke of Alexandria by the Emperor Diocletian and instructed to suppress the Christian community, but was instead converted to Christianity by a vision.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Christ baptising Saint John Martyr

Date

about 1565

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 63.5 x W 70.8 cm

Accession number

NG3122

Acquisition method

Layard Bequest, 1916

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

View venue