John the Baptist kneels at the upper left, his right hand pouring water over the head of Jesus, who stands in the river at the center, hands clasped in prayer. Jesus is shown with long hair and a beard, his body half-submerged, a white cloth wrapped around his waist and water trickling down his side. A kneeling figure in dark robes appears at the lower right, gazing upwards toward the central scene, his hands clasped in devotion.

A rich red and white drapery lies on the ground at the lower left, its folds painted with a soft, luminous texture. Above, a broad cloud stretches across the blue sky, from which three cherubs emerge, their faces and arms visible as they peer down at the event below. The background is filled with dense green trees that frame the figures, and a distant landscape with a tower and buildings appears at the right edge, painted in muted tones.

The composition is tightly arranged, with the main figures forming a diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right, creating a sense of movement and connection. The brushwork is soft and atmospheric, especially in the rendering of flesh and clouds, typical of the Venetian school’s handling of oil paint. A faint rainbow-like beam of light descends from the cloud toward Jesus’ head, connecting the upper and lower parts of the painting.

The upper left corner is filled with dark, leafy tree branches that frame John the Baptist and partially obscure the sky. The lower edge of the painting is dominated by deep shadow, especially around the kneeling figure in black, whose face and hands are highlighted by a gentle light. The paint transitions from fine, smooth lines in the figures’ faces and hands to broader, more textured brushstrokes in the trees and ground. The Capitoline Museums' record identifies the work as part of their collection, and the painting is recognized as an example of High Renaissance and Venetian school religious art.