SAINT JOHN BAPTIST (ANDREA DEL SARTO)
John the Baptist known as the Baptist or Saint John, was a contemporary Jewish itinerant preacher of Jesus of Nazareth, born at the end of the 1st century BC He is revered as an important religious figure in Christianity, Islam and the Bahá’í faith. í. He is considered a prophet by all these confessions and various branches of Christianity have proclaimed him a saint.
John used baptism as the central sacrament of his messianic movement He baptized Jesus Some scholars believe that Jesus was a disciple of John and some of the followers of Jesus had previously been followers of John.
According to the New Testament, John anticipated a messianic figure greater than himself, and it was Jesus who came. Christians speak of John as if he were the forerunner of Jesus, for having announced his coming.
One of the five paintings by Andrea del Sarto that can be seen in the Pinacoteca of the Colegio de Nª Señora de la Antigua:
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Saint Margaret of Cortona, the penitent.
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Saint Agnes, twelve-year-old girl, martyr in 304, with her symbolic lamb, the origin of her name.
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Saint Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of philosophers, martyr at 18.
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Saint Peter, father of the Church, of utmost perfection.
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San Juan Bautista, of great beauty in color and shape. These last two are replicas of others existing in the Cathedral of Pisa.