Photography by Edward C. Robison III
Baptism
A procession exits St. Augustine Catholic Church (where Clementine Hunter worshiped and found community all her life) and makes its way to a baptism in the Cane River. Hunter used color to highlight each figure. Those being baptized wear green, led by clergymen in regal yellow garments with green hats. She distinguished the observing churchgoers by painting them in their Sunday best. Hunter repeatedly painted narrative scenes like Baptism to reflect her experience of daily life in Louisiana.
ArtistClementine Hunter(1886-1988)
1886 or 1887 - 1988
Date1950s
MediumOil on board
Dimensions18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm)
Signedl.r.: C H
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Gift of Gordon W. Bailey and Museum purchase, 2018.31
ClassificationPainting
Provenanceto Dr. Robert Ryan, New Orleans, LA ; to Gordon W. Bailey, Los Angeles, CA; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2018
On ViewYes
This artwork's face covers about 59× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.
