The Baptism of Christ

Seen from left to right this is the first fresco on the northern wall of the Sistine Chapel. Perugino here worked with Pinturicchio. It is assumed that the latter is responsible for the landscape in the background.

Actually two scenes are depicted: to the right, John the Baptist is seen preaching.

On the opposite wall Perugino painted the scene with the circumcision of Moses' son. Baptism and circumcision are both initiation rituals. Perhaps someone wanted to suggest a contraposition: the spiritual christian belief versus the blood-drenched jewish.