Birth and Naming of John the Baptist

Italian 13th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of a religious scene with two distinct panels. In the top panel, a figure is reclining in a bed, with a halo, while another haloed figure sits nearby, and a third figure tends to a cradle holding an infant. The bottom panel shows a seated figure writing in a book with an attentive audience of figures standing before him. The style resembles a medieval manuscript illumination, with vivid colors, gold accents, and intricate detailing on the garments and background. The painting uses an architectural framework motif to divide the two narrative scenes. The color palette includes deep reds, blues, and golds, and the background is patterned.