Scenes from the Life of St John the Baptist

Several incidents from the childhood of St John the Baptist are combined here in chronological order from left to right. First his father writes down the name he will be given – Johannes – in Latin; the infant saint then takes leave of his parents and goes to lead a life of fasting and self-denial in the wilderness; he meets the Christ child and receives his blessing; finally he is shown collecting water from a spring. The beautiful landscape background, with its walled hill-town and rustic buildings, is a faithful portrayal of the countryside around Florence. Originally this panel formed part of a series, which would have told the story of the saint’s life from birth to death. It may have decorated a private chapel in Florence, a city which has St John the Baptist as its patron saint.