Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 17: The Baptism

by Cristóbal Rojas

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Venezuelan painter Cristóbal Rojas' 'The Baptism' features a scene in a church baptistry. Three women in hats and dresses surround a red-faced, squalling infant wearing a white baptismal gown and bonnet. Behind the group, a ghostly woman in white stands with a white bouquet at her feet. Even further back a priest wearing a white robe sits with his head bent toward another man. A bald man and a stern-looking woman in somber black sit and have a private discussion. Features of the room include a central baptism font of holy water, a swirling wrought iron railing, and a floor design incorporating crosses, squares, and a ring encircling the baptism font.

Vocabulary

Baptism: The Christian religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person's forehead or of immersion in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church. The ceremony may be accompanied by name-giving for infants.
Baptistry: The part of a church used for baptism.
Baptismal Gown: A dress born by male and female babies for their baptism ceremony.
Baptism Font: A receptacle in a church for the water used in baptism, typically a freestanding stone structure
Holy Water: Water blessed by a priest and used in religious ceremonies.
Wrought Iron: A tough, malleable form of iron suitable for forging or rolling rather than casting.
Cross: A mark, object, or figure formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces (+ or ×). An emblem of Christianity representing the cross on which the Christian figure Jesus was crucified.
Tuberculosis: An infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues, especially the lungs.

Concepts

1. Venezuelan painter Cristóbal Rojas was born in 1857 in Cúa, Venezuela. See his self-portrait below.

2. Zoom in and find Rojas' country of birth on the map of South America below.

3. Rojas lived a fairly comfortable life until his father died when he was 13. Responsibility fell to him to earn money for his family, and he began working in a tobacco factory.
4. Rojas' grandfather taught him to draw, and he eventually studied art at the Universidad Central de Venezuela.
5. One of Rojas' paintings earned him a scholarship to study in Paris, where he was inspired by artwork in the Louvre museum.
6. Many of Rojas' works feature people suffering from tuberculosis, to which he coincidentally succumbed. Sick and out of money, he returned to Venezuela.
7. Rojas died of tuberculosis in Caracas, Venezuela in 1890 at the age of 32.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Baptistry
• Baby
• Bonnet
• Hats
• Crosses
• Wrought Iron
• Font
• Holy Water (not visible)
• Priest
• Ghostly Woman
• Balding Man in Black

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Map   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 26 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 5: Color the Artist   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 27 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 6: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 28 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 4

Answer 1

The characters are the baby being baptized, the three women tending to the baby, the ghostly woman, the priest and the man he speaks to, and the seated man and woman in black.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is a baptistry in a church.

2 / 4

Question 3

What is inside the font?

3 / 4

Answer 3

Holy water is inside the font.

3 / 4

Question 4

What types of symbols and shapes do you see on the floor?

4 / 4

Answer 4

The tile floor has symbols and shapes such as crosses, squares, and a ring.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are the baby being baptized, the three women tending to the baby, the ghostly woman, the priest and the man he speaks to, and the seated man and woman in black.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is a baptistry in a church.
3. What is inside the font? Holy water is inside the font.
4. What types of symbols and shapes do you see on the floor? The tile floor has symbols and shapes such as crosses, squares, and a ring.

References

'Cristóbal Rojas (artist).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.