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Baptême du Christ
ArtistGerard David
Yearc. 1502–1508
MediumOil on panel
Dimensions132 cm × 181,9 cm (52 in × 716 in)
LocationGroeningemuseum, Bruges

The Baptism of Christ or the Jan des Trompes Triptych is an altarpiece painted between 1502 and 1508 by the Flemish painter Gerard David. It is now in the Groeningemuseum in Bruges, Belgium.

Description

Its central panel is 127.9 cm high by 96.6 cm wide and shows Christ's baptism in the Jordan, with an angel holding Christ's clothing and God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove above Christ. In the background is a landscape with scenes from the life of John the Baptist, whilst the foreground is filled with plants and flowers.

The side panels are 132 cm high by 43.1 and 43.2 cm wide, and contain donor portraits. They show the donors and their children – on the left panel is Jan de Trompes, treasurer of Bruges, being presented by John the Evangelist, his name saint, whilst his second wife Elisabeth van der Meersch is shown being presented by her name saint, Elisabeth of Hungary. The landscape flows across all three panels.

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