St. John the Baptist

The saint is represented here in a contemplative pose with his main attributes: he wears a ram's fleece and holds the baptismal shell, symbolising Christ's baptism in the waters of the River Jordan, while looking at the mystical lamb or Agnus Dei.

Due to its characteristics and dimensions, it may have been part of a set of nativity scenes from the workshop of the well-known Lisbon master barrister António Ferreira. These were composed of various figures, including simple shepherds with their respective offerings and musical instrument players, strongly influenced by religious and profane poetic and musical representations that originated in medieval Portugal.