Dish with John the Baptist

Item

Title (Dublin Core)
Dish with John the Baptist
Description (Dublin Core)
Christian symbols appear on Chinese porcelain as early as the early sixteenth century, but this unusually large plate is one of the first known works with a biblical scene. The composition depicting John the Baptist and Christ in the Jordan River is based on a passage from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, as indicated by the inscription ("MAT. 3, 16"). The plate may have been intended for export to Europe or for use by recently converted Christians in China.
Inscription: Inscribed in cartouche at bottom: MAT. 3. 16.
Identifier (Dublin Core)
2016.166.2
Coverage (Dublin Core)
China
Spatial Coverage (Dublin Core)
European
Date (Dublin Core)
ca. 1715 - 25
Medium (Dublin Core)
blue-and-white (ceramic glaze)
Dimensions: 3 1/4 × 20 in. (8.3 × 50.8 cm)
Creator (Dublin Core)
Unknown
Publisher (Dublin Core)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rights (Dublin Core)
OA-Public Domain
Media
20161662.jpg