The Baptism of Christ (with Saint John, Without his Cross, in Profile to the Right) 1767 - 1793

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo rendered this ink and wash drawing, "The Baptism of Christ," with Saint John present, though notably without his emblematic cross. Here, the dove descends, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, radiating divine light. This motif, resonating through centuries, recalls the pagan symbol of a bird, a divine messenger, seen in ancient Roman depictions of apotheosis. The dove's descent embodies not just divine approval, but also the psychological impact of witnessing the sacred. The act of baptism itself, here performed by John, purifies and empowers the psyche through spiritual cleansing. Consider how the image of the descending dove, once a symbol of the soul's release in ancient art, transformed to signify divine intervention. The non-linear journey of symbols reveals how images retain, shed, and gain meanings across time, continuously impacting our subconscious interpretation.