The altar-piece of the Baptism of Jesus by Alvise Benfatto (1620)
One of the four altars of the monastic church of St. Caterina is surmounted by an altar-piece representing the Baptism of Jesus by the the Veronese Alvise Benfatti. The painting, now preserved in this site, appears to be the only surviving relic after several restorations and changes over the centuries to the church of San Giovanni Battista dei Camaldolesi, after the destruction of the ancient church during the War of Chioggia (1378 – 1381)
In the work, dominated by the figure of Christ in the foreground, the artist has assigned a discrete role to San Giovanni who seems to withdraw from the scene in recognition of his lesser position with regard to that of the Saviour. The commissioning of the painting, signed and dated, is confirmed by two small portraits in the lower corners of the painting.
