Baptism and Temptation of Christ

The painting was formerly in the church of S. Nicolò ai Frari, Venice, which has been destroyed.

The painting is organized as a continuous narration. On the left is the baptism, a theme usually handled statically by Veronese but here so animated that the action almost explodes around the dove of the Holy Ghost. On the right is the Temptation, with Christ being offered the possession of the kingdoms of the earth. Airy architecture dominates the landscape, into which the cities of the world have been crowded. The fabulous, invented Oriental architecture anticipates Borromini and Guarini.