St. John the Baptist

An azulejo panel produced in Real Fábrica de Louça, in Rato, in 1807, representing a religious scene with a naturalist leaning, revealed in the flowing brushstrokes and the dissolving forms in the background, indicating erudition and sophistication as well. Set into a mounting decorated with floral motifs, the main figure in the foreground is St. John the Baptist. He is seated on a rock holding a cross with a phylactery with the words ECCE AGNUS DEI (BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD), and pointing to the figure of Christ standing in the background.