The Ghent Altarpiece: John the Baptist

This image represents John the Baptist, whom Christians believe to have been the last Old Testament prophet.

A stately green cloak covers his original costume, the ascetic camel hair tunic, that he wore when preaching the doctrine of baptism on the banks of the Jordan.

As was customary in medieval images, he points to the Messiah with his right index finger.

In the book that rests on his knees, we make out the word CONSOLAMINI (take comfort), which begins a prophecy in the book of Isaiah that was interpreted in the gospel as a reference to John the Baptist.