The Rood Screen at Venice's "Frari" Church: Detail, St. John the Baptist

1475
Marble

The screen includes John the Baptist among the Old Testament prophets because he was called a prophet by his father (Luke 1:76) and even "more than a prophet" by Jesus (Matthew 11:9). Perhaps because of the latter appellation the artist distinguishes him from the other prophets by identifying him through attributes (the lamb on the book, the camel skin) rather than a name on a banderole.

This panel is at the right end of the left segment of the screen, so that what John is pointing at and looking toward is the actual altar at the far end of the presbytery, locus of the Eucharist and the actual "lamb of God." In contrast, the corresponding panel on the left end of the right panel has the Old Testament prophet Daniel looking down and away.

Read more about images of John the Baptist
View the entire rood screen.

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• Iconography of John the Baptist
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Photographed at the church by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.