Baptism

Material, technology: oil, canvas

Size: 424 x 195 cm

Description: Antonio Zanchi left his native Este for Venice at an early age. Thanks to his master Matteo Ponzone, he came close to Tintoretto’s painting, but South-Italian Caravaggism also had an influence on him. In the main works of Venetian tenebroso of the ’60s-’70s, perhaps Zanchi’s tone is the most naturalistic. The rhythm of the composition of "Baptism", the suggestive gestures of the two actors, the intensity of red, blue, pink highlights against the darker background can offset the excessive ambitiousness of the composition and the failure of the rending of the upper region, the figure of the Almighty amidst the celestial hosts.