Lot 194
Spanish Colonial, Mexico, ca. 1750 CE. Finely delineated in oil and casine on canvas, a grand painting depicting "Christ in the House of Mary and Martha" (Luke 10:38-42) in which Martha, the quintessential busy housewife who is obsessed with her domestic duties, is shown preparing food surrounded by her domestic accoutrements while her sister Mary Magdalene sits at Jesus' feet and listens attentively to Christ's words. Martha is also shown chiding her sister for sitting idly and not helping her; however, Christ says that Mary is playing a necessary role - in essence "Martha, Martha ... you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." A lovely domestic interior scene beautifully rendered in jewel tones and demonstrating a command of strong modeling and foreshortening techniques. The scene extends through an open window to the lovely landscape beyond. Size: painting measures 57.5" L x 41" W (146 cm x 104.1 cm); 66.375" L x 50.375" W (168.6 cm x 128 cm) framed
This scene has been the subject of several important artists, including Spanish master Diego Velazquez (1599-1660) who titled his 1618 work which is housed in the National Gallery of London, "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary" (rather than Mary and Martha) and Dutch master Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) whose depiction, also entitled, "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary" - his largest painting (1654-55) and his only surviving painting addressing a biblical subject - is housed in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection
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#124533
- Condition: The painting shows nice areas of craquelure as well as surface wear with pigment losses, staining, and impressions from former stretchers - all commensurate with age. This said the imagery is quite vivid. Verso shows five patched repairs and areas of discoloration. The painting has new stretchers.
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