The Baptism of Christ

1813

Benjamin West American, 1738-1820

Not On View

The Baptism of Christ: 1 of Collection Gallery

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

Title The Baptism of Christ

Artwork Date 1813

Artist Benjamin West

Life Dates 1738-1820

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. American

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Unknown

Medium Pen and brush and ink over graphite pencil on paper

Dimensions Sheet: 5 7/8 × 9 inches (14.9 × 22.9 cm) Mount: 10 × 13 3/16 inches (25.4 × 33.5 cm)

Classification Drawings

Department Prints, Drawings & Photographs

Credit City of Detroit Purchase

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 48.212

Markings

Signed Signed and dated, in pen and brown ink, lower left: B. West 1813

Inscriptions Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower left: 1653 Inscribed, in pen and brown ink, on mount, center, verso: The Baptism of Our Savior | A design for one of the Pictures, which was painted by | Command of His Majesty George the Third for his intended | Chapel in Windsor Castle [underscore] Benj.. West Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower left, center, verso: Produce of England Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower left corner, verso: a52278

Marks Stamped, in black ink, on mount, lower left: Sir Robert Witt (Lugt suppl. 2228b)

Provenance

1948-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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Published References

von Erffa, H., Staley, A. The Paintings of Benjamin West. New Haven & London, 1986, p. 337.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Benjamin West, The Baptism of Christ, 1813, pen and brush and ink over graphite pencil on paper. Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase, 48.212.