Carved around 1550 as part of the monumental choir screen of Chartres Cathedral, this sculptural group depicting The Baptism of Christ exemplifies the serene grandeur of French Renaissance religious art. Executed in fine limestone, the relief forms one of a series of narrative scenes adorning the choir enclosure, which was begun in the early sixteenth century and completed over several decades by successive teams of sculptors.

At the centre, Christ stands with head bowed and hands crossed upon His chest, receiving the baptismal water from St John the Baptist, who leans forward in a gesture of blessing. To the left, an angel holds a folded garment, awaiting the moment of Christ’s anointing. The figures are modelled with graceful restraint: the smooth, flowing drapery, idealised anatomy, and measured gestures reflect the influence of classical sculpture filtered through French courtly elegance. The delicate interplay of light and shadow across the pale stone enhances the spiritual calm of the composition.

This Baptism scene marks a stylistic transition within the choir’s sculptural programme—from the late Gothic expressiveness of earlier panels to the harmonious balance and humanistic poise of the Renaissance. Though intended as part of a grand architectural ensemble, the group possesses a quiet self-sufficiency, its symmetrical composition and contemplative mood inviting meditation on humility and divine acceptance.

As one of the most refined episodes within the Chartres choir screen, this representation of the Baptism of Christ reveals the mastery of mid-sixteenth-century French stone carving—where devotional narrative, classical form, and architectural rhythm unite to create an image of timeless serenity.