Baptism of the Neophytes 1427

Masaccio painted this fresco, Baptism of the Neophytes, in Florence in the 1420s. This scene of baptism depicts a key ritual in the Catholic Church; a rite of passage that welcomes new members into the Christian faith. The Catholic Church had a fundamental role in the social and political context of Florence at this time. It influenced everything from the art that was commissioned to the laws that governed daily life. Masaccio's work, although religious in subject, was revolutionary for its time. He depicted human figures with a realism and emotional depth that was new to Florentine art. Look at the figures waiting to be baptised, drawn with a visceral physical presence that rejects earlier artistic conventions. To better understand the image’s importance in the history of art, we can draw on a range of source materials, from theological tracts and the writings of artists themselves, to records of artistic patronage. By studying the art and social history of the period, we can get a sense of just how radical Masaccio’s vision was.