Pala di Sant Agostino (Baptism of Christ) 1523

Pietro Perugino painted the Baptism of Christ as part of the Pala di Sant’Agostino, a large altarpiece, during the High Renaissance in Italy, when humanist values began to merge with religious themes. The work depicts a fair-skinned Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist. Angels watch from above, alongside God who is represented as a dove. The figures' gentle expressions create an atmosphere of serenity, but it's worth noting the social context here. Perugino was celebrated and favoured by the elite and upper class; his work often embodies the era’s ideals of beauty and harmony, reflecting a desire for order and grace in a time of significant social and political change. However, this idealization often came at the expense of representing the realities and diverse identities of the wider population. Perugino's altarpiece serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in art patronage and artistic expression. Despite its beauty, it also reflects the social hierarchies of the time.