Piero della Francesca - The Baptism Of Jesus Painting
The Holy Spirit (dove), Father and Son align on a glorious sunlit day on the banks of the River Jordan, with its familiar hilly landscapes and with its olive, eucalyptus and cedar trees.
One cousin baptises another cousin, with honour and gratitude in their heart. John the Baptist had been given this sacred task.
Jesus stands in the waters of the Jordan, with a simple loincloth around him. His brown hair and beard glows in the sun and his intense blue, green, and greys eyes look across the horizon. Those who have walked with Jesus, knows those eyes well. They are eyes like no other and reflect this man’s divinity and his pure soul. He is ready to receive the life giving waters of his baptism, under the cedar tree.
On this day, are three angels to witness this memorial event. One angels wings take on an earthly brown, to fushia pink and then sky blue in colour. They are wearing a band gold on their long flaxen hair. The angels wear robes and the middle angel wears a white robe, with a pink blossom wreath over their head. This angel looks straight at Jesus. The last angel (with a green leafy wreath around their head) stands behind the cedar tree and seems to be watching with anxious eyes. They whisper to their angel companions.
The other bathers continue to bath in the waters and then it happens. Everything aligns with perfect symmetry. There is a quiet hush. The dove, the crucible of pure water pouring on Jesus head, held by the palm of John’s hand, Jesus’s hand comes into a prayer, into the present moment. And then the voice of the Father reigns out, “This is my own dear son with whom I am pleased.”
Piero della Francesca, the painter, captures this moment of unconditional love through a medieval window forever, in 1439, and for us to take great pleasure in, to our present day.
By Subrata Saha.
30-30-30
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