The Baptism of Christ

Created in 1773 by Nicolás Enríquez, this work formed part of a suite of devotional paintings commissioned by Juan Bautista Echeverría, a Spanish-born merchant residing in Mexico. The subject—Saint John baptizing Christ—reflects both the namesake of the patron and the spiritual gravitas of the sacrament. Enríquez’s treatment is notably intimate, underscoring the tactile realism of water and flesh in a scene of divine revelation. The inscription attests to the work’s role as a personal object of devotion, fusing Basque identity with New Spanish piety.

Christ is depicted standing in the Jordan River, his head bowed in submission, as Saint John pours water in a delicate arc. Enríquez renders the divine encounter with luminous clarity, emphasizing the translucence of the water and the sanctity of the moment.