Attributed to the MAESTRO DE ASTORGA (active in Astorga, León, ca. 1510-1530).

Attributed to the MAESTRO DE ASTORGA (active in Astorga, León, ca. 1510-1530).
‘Saint John the Baptist.
Oil on panel.
It has faults and damage caused by xylophages.
Size: 147 x 69 cm; 154 x 76 cm (frame).

The saint appears in the centre of the composition with his characteristic attributes. He is barefoot and wears the usual camel skin. He is holding a book with cut-out covers imitating green velvet, while with his right hand he points to the Agnus Dei or mystical lamb resting on top of the book.The Gospels say of John the Baptist that he was the son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, cousin of the Virgin Mary. He retired at a very young age to the Judean desert to lead an ascetic life and preach penance, and recognised in Jesus, who was baptised by him, the Messiah announced by the prophets. A year after Christ's baptism, in the year 29, John was arrested and imprisoned by the tetrarch of Galilee, Herod Antipas, whose marriage to Herodias, his niece and sister-in-law, he had dared to censure. Finally, St. John was beheaded, and his head given to Salome as a reward for his beautiful dances.

During the 15th century, the influence of the Flemish school of painting was a key factor in the development of European art, particularly in Spain, which was linked to the Low Countries by political and economic ties. At that time, Flemish painters established a stylistic model based on the search for reality, focusing on capturing the qualities of objects, giving special importance to secondary details and using a smooth, draughtsmanlike technique. In the 16th century, as a result of the introduction of the novelties of the Italian Renaissance, the Flemish style evolved towards a more classical and sculptural sense, while retaining its own characteristics. This change also affected the Hispano-Flemish school, which also had independent channels for the penetration of the Italian style. Influences mainly came to Spain from Raphael and his followers, through engravings, oil paintings and painters who travelled between the two countries, and the master from Astorga is considered one of the leading artists of Renaissance Castile. It is true that not much biographical information is known about the artist, so that his name is not known, although he was active in León at the beginning of the 16th century. He painted the Altarpiece of Saint Michael in Astorga cathedral, the Nativity of Christ with Saint Dominic and Saint Lawrence and the History of Saint James, which is in the collection of the Museo Lázaro Galdiano, and the five panels in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.