Baptism of Christ

This relief constituted the main scene of an altarpiece from the convent of el Carmen Descalzo of Valladolid (nowadays, the Sanctuary of el Carmen Extramuros) that, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, showed his beheading in the attic. The two main figures are almost standing-alone, over a background where the other components of the scene are solved by bas-reliefs and paintings, a commonly used technique by this author, like in the Adoration of the Shepherds, Christ carrying the cross and Saint Bernard, both in the convent of the Huelgas reales in Valladolid. From both characters, very natural in their anatomic representation, the left hand of Christ should be pointed out, it is excellent and also the elegant position of Saint John arching, - a recourse that empowers the humility of Christ-, covered with camel skin and curly hair, which are a mention to his hermit life in the desert.