The Baptism of Christ

Besides several examples of medieval panel paintings, the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent also owns an outstanding collection of medieval sculptures. They include devotional works and fragments of altarpieces from churches and convents and small religious sculptures for private use. Their exact origin is often unknown. The museum’s core collection includes this tiny yet exquisite group of early alabaster carvings. The English sculpture industry, mostly of small alabaster carvings, from the region around Nottingham, flourished from the 13th century to the early 16th century. The two reliefs of The Baptism of Christ and The Coronation of the Virgin must be situated in this context. The two carvings were originally created for an altarpiece. Their style and subject is reminiscent of Byzantine and Roman art.