# The Baptism of Christ

The Baptism of Christ is recounted by each of the evangelists. The episode describes the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.

According to the texts, the heavens open to reveal a dove, but here it is the hand of God that blesses the scene. This hand materializes the divine voice from heaven, as mentioned in the Gospels: “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1:9-11)

Similar representations of Christ’s Baptism can be found, for example, on the lintel of the Saint John the Baptist portal of Sens Cathedral, sculpted at the end of the 12th century:

Baptism of Christ
North portal of Sens Cathedral, c. 1190-1200
Photo © Marc Gil

Another very similar depiction can be seen in the Mosan region, on the baptismal font of Saint Bartholomew’s Church in Liège, believed to have been created in the early 12th century by Renier de Huy:

Baptismal font of Liège Cathedral (detail): The Baptism of Christ
Photo © Jean-Paul Grandmont, Wikimedia (Creative Commons License)