An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery1720s
Artist: Sebastiano Ricci
Italian (Venice), 1659–1734
Pharisees bring a woman accused of adultery before Christ
15 5/8 x 19 7/8 in. (39.69 x 50.48 cm) (canvas)
15 1/8 x 19 3/8 in. (38.42 x 49.21 cm) (sight)
25 1/2 x 29 7/8 x 3 in. (64.77 x 75.88 x 7.62 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
Italy
18th century
Bequest of Miss Tessie Jones in memory of Herschel V. Jones
In a world where ambition breathes life into canvas and brush, Sebastiano Ricci, a Venetian painter with a heart full of stories, journeyed through the corridors of power. His travels whisked him from the spirited streets of Rome to the regal courts of Vienna, and onward to the bustling life of London. With every stop, he conjured vast frescoes that whispered to the princely patrons who sought beauty to adorn their palaces. Yet, amidst the grandeur and magnitude of his canvases, there lay a more intimate piece—a small-scale work that still shimmered with his celebrated charm.
In this captivating artwork, Ricci showcases his signature elegance. The brushwork flows like gentle waves on a serene sea, each stroke alive with emotion that dances across the surface, while colors leap forth in brilliant bursts. But it is not merely the technical mastery that draws the eye; it is the poignant story he has captured within this frame, one that transcends time and speaks of morality and humanity.
The scene is steeped in gravity. Before us stands a woman, encircled by the hard gazes of the Pharisees—those staunch rulers of social and religious order. They bring her forth, having caught her in an act deemed unforgivable. The air thickens with tension, as they twist the blade of judgment, demanding to know whether she deserves the ultimate punishment, the sharp stones that would seal her fate.
And there, amidst this sea of voices clamoring for justice, stands Jesus, a figure of calm at the eye of the storm. He bends down and begins to write in the dust, a gesture both humble and profound, as if the ground itself were a canvas. Then he lifts his gaze, piercing through the weight of condemnation, and offers a challenge wrapped in grace: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
With these words, the world holds its breath, and a silence descends. Moments stretch into eternity as the onlookers grapple with their own flaws and insecurities. One by one, stones slip from hands that can no longer bear the burden of judgment. In that fleeting moment, Ricci encapsulates not just the woman’s plight, but the essence of compassion and redemption—a powerful reminder that we all walk a fragile line between mercy and condemnation.
In the warmth of this painted narrative, the viewer is invited to reflect, to ponder their own stories, and to recognize that every life, every choice, is etched with nuance. In the heart of Ricci's work, the boundaries that divide us dissolve, allowing a gentle truth to surface: it is in our shared humanity that we find hope and, ultimately, peace.
About the artist
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