The preaching of John the Baptist

This Preaching of John the Baptist, dated 1593, is a later copy after one of Andrea del Sarto's compositions depicting Florence's patron saint. The Baptist's preaching was a subject of civic and religious importance in Florence, and Andrea's treatments of the theme were widely reproduced. Oil on canvas — by the sixteenth century the dominant medium for ambitious works — allowed successive glazes of transparent color and freedom to rework the composition.

The painting follows Andrea's compositional approach to multi-figure outdoor preaching scenes, though the later date indicates execution by a follower working from the master's designs.