The Baptism of Christ2015

Jan van Scorel’s The Baptism of Christ will be shown for the first time in centuries without layers of yellowed varnish and discoloured retouches and overpaintings, usually applied with a lavish hand. The exhibition examines the history of its creation and iconography, the painting technique and the wooden support, which appears to have been enlarged later in the sixteenth century. Alongside the restored painting will be Scorel’s major works from his Haarlem period, including Mary Magdalene from Rijksmuseum and Madonna with the wild Roses from the Centraal Museum. This booklet, written by Ariane van Suchtelen, interim curator of old art seconded from the Mauritshuis, who put the exhibition together, is being published to coincide with the show. Among other things she examines the importance of Scorel’s Haarlem years and places The Baptism of Christ in a broad context.00Exhibition: De Hallen, Haarlem, The Netherlands (14 November 2015 to 13 March 2016).