The Preaching of John the Baptist
The Met
Artist: Bartholomeus Breenbergh(Dutch, Deventer 1598–1657 Amsterdam)
Date: 1634
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on wood
Dimensions: 21 1/2 x 29 5/8 in. (54.6 x 75.2 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, The Annenberg Foundation Gift, 1991
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A large crowd gathers among stone ruins, with a figure speaking from a prominent rock
Detailed Description
A wide, horizontal image depicts a large gathering of people in an outdoor setting under a sky that transitions from light blue on the upper left to dark gray clouds on the upper right. On the far left, a tall, dark cliff face rises, topped with sparse trees. Below it, a winding path leads into the distance, populated by small figures. Further right, a large, crumbling stone structure with arches and overgrown vegetation dominates the mid-ground, with several small groups of people seated or standing among the ruins. In the foreground and mid-ground, a large crowd of people is gathered. A central figure, possibly a leader, dressed in blue and white with a plumed hat, stands facing right, surrounded by other figures wearing various garments. A child rides a donkey on a path to the left of this central group. On the far right, a man with a staff stands atop a large rock, gesturing upwards with his right arm towards the crowd. Below him, a woman in a red dress holds a child, while another man in blue kneels nearby. A basket of fruit and other items rests on the ground. In the distance, rolling hills and mountains stretch across the horizon under the sky, with a small town or structure visible on a distant hill. The overall color palette includes earthy greens and browns for the landscape, with blues, reds, and whites for the figures' clothing.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
