Biography. John VIII was the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Dragaš, the daughter of the Serbian prince Constantine Dragaš.He was associated as co-emperor with his father before 1416 and became sole emperor on 1 July 1425, although he had already assumed full power on 19 January 1421. In June 1422, John VIII Palaiologos supervised the defense of …

The Baptism of Christ is a painting by the Italian Renaissance master Piero della Francesca.Painted in egg tempera on two panels of poplar wood, the dating is controversial – some give it a very early date, perhaps 1439; others much later, around 1460. It is held by the National Gallery, London.. The panel was commissioned presumably some time about 1440 by …