Lot 298: ADAM ELSHEIMER (1578-1610) - Saint John the Baptist

Oil on copper. This exquisite work, attributed to Adam Elsheimer (1578-1610), depicts Saint John the Baptist in a carefully crafted natural setting, characteristic of this artist's mastery in the use of small formats and metallic surfaces. Saint John, at the centre of the composition, appears seated under the shade of a robust tree, his figure surrounded by a mountainous landscape that stretches towards a luminous horizon. Dressed in a red cloak that contrasts with the warm tone of his skin, the saint holds a book and the staff with the cross, while the lamb at his feet, a symbol of the Agnus Dei, reinforces the identification with his role as a precursor of Christ.