Ciao Eric and thank you☺ you are a good observer: yes, Cima was for sure "inspired" by Piero's Baptism. We can tell because there are many elements in common in the scene: in particular the 3 angels, but also the shape of the river, the hill in background and the tree's location. Cima's baptism was painted 40 years circa after Piero's one: it seems in 1492 (the year when Piero died). Fascinating right?☺
The symbolisms in this incredible picture do not stop with the mystical mathematics. Take for example the tree standing beside Christ. I believe it to be a Walnut Tree known as Juglans Regia and is symbolic of kingship.In ancient Persia, only royalty ate walnuts, and they came to be known as Royal Walnuts. Around 2000 b.c.e. in Mesopotamia, the Chaldeans left inscriptions on clay tablets revealing the existence of walnut groves within the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The three angelic figures to the picture left of Jesus are not what they seem. In my view they are holding the garments of Jesus and John the Baptist while they are engaged in the water of the River Jordan. The angel holding John’s pinkish garments wearing it like a towel over his shoulder is easy to identify as he is wearing a garland of Mugwort around his brow. Mugwort In the Middle Ages, was known as cingulum Sancti Johannis, it being believed that John the Baptist wore a girdle of it in the wilderness… And take a look at John’s girdle. You might need to expand the picture to see something crude and apparently amateurish. Despite the delicate work and care by Dela Francesca all over this painting this girdle is totally out of place in its crude and seemingly careless application. I have no idea what this is meant to convey. Then we get to the angel with the blue garment and white liner around held around his waist. Dark blue like this is normally found in the hem of the temple priests, but a totally blue garment, can we assume Chief Priest? Now it starts to make sense, this is the Triple Office of Christ; Priest (the blue garments), King(the Walnut Tree) and prophet (the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove). For a prophet is someone who interprets the will of God the Father. The three angels may well represent this feature, but the symbolism of the one in the middle wearing a thick crown of pink and white flowers is unknown to me at this stage. The pink towel of John the Baptist may represent the sunset and therefore an indication of John’s imminent death.
Ciao Alessandro, belissima spiegiazione. Do you know the relationship of Piero’s baptism with that of Cima da Conegliano? I suppose Cima copied Piero.
Ciao Eric and thank you☺ you are a good observer: yes, Cima was for sure "inspired" by Piero's Baptism.
We can tell because there are many elements in common in the scene: in particular the 3 angels, but also the shape of the river, the hill in background and the tree's location.
Cima's baptism was painted 40 years circa after Piero's one: it seems in 1492 (the year when Piero died). Fascinating right?☺
😂🎉❤🎃🎆🎇
Thanks
The symbolisms in this incredible picture do not stop with the mystical mathematics.
Take for example the tree standing beside Christ. I believe it to be a Walnut Tree known as Juglans Regia and is symbolic of kingship.In ancient Persia, only royalty ate walnuts, and they came to be known as Royal Walnuts. Around 2000 b.c.e. in Mesopotamia, the Chaldeans left inscriptions on clay tablets revealing the existence of walnut groves within the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The three angelic figures to the picture left of Jesus are not what they seem. In my view they are holding the garments of Jesus and John the Baptist while they are engaged in the water of the River Jordan. The angel holding John’s pinkish garments wearing it like a towel over his shoulder is easy to identify as he is wearing a garland of Mugwort around his brow. Mugwort In the Middle Ages, was known as cingulum Sancti Johannis, it being believed that John the Baptist wore a girdle of it in the wilderness… And take a look at John’s girdle. You might need to expand the picture to see something crude and apparently amateurish. Despite the delicate work and care by Dela Francesca all over this painting this girdle is totally out of place in its crude and seemingly careless application. I have no idea what this is meant to convey.
Then we get to the angel with the blue garment and white liner around held around his waist. Dark blue like this is normally found in the hem of the temple priests, but a totally blue garment, can we assume Chief Priest?
Now it starts to make sense, this is the Triple Office of Christ; Priest (the blue garments), King(the Walnut Tree) and prophet (the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove). For a prophet is someone who interprets the will of God the Father.
The three angels may well represent this feature, but the symbolism of the one in the middle wearing a thick crown of pink and white flowers is unknown to me at this stage. The pink towel of John the Baptist may represent the sunset and therefore an indication of John’s imminent death.
Thanks for the interesting info!☺