Photographed by Scott Wolff. Scanned from a slide. Color corrected by Pat Cagney.

Christ in the House of Simon

Artist Jean François de Troy (French, 1679 - 1752)

Date1743

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions76 x 56 1/4 in. (193 x 142.9 cm)
Overall, Frame: 95 x 71 x 5 in. (241.3 x 180.3 x 12.7 cm)

ClassificationsEuropean art

Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

Object number71.639

Terms

Religion
Jesus Christ
New Testament
Women
Men
Mary Magdalene
Blue
Orange
Green
White
Purple
Gray
Black
Mustard yellow
Brown
Late Baroque
Early Rococo

Collections

European Art before 1945

On View

On view

DescriptionThis is a large oil on canvas painting, with several classic figures in billowing fabrics populating the scene. The focus is a woman in the foreground is being blessed by Jesus. Eight figures and their billowing garments crowd the canvas behind the focus, two of which only their faces are visible over the shoulders of others. They are all seated around a table, and there is a great deal of action: mouths are open as if they are speaking, hands are gesturing, and cups are lifted up to be refilled. Christ, on the left, wears red and blue. The woman facing him in the center foreground wears blue; her long hair is down and loose. She has removed Christ's sandals and is anointing his feet, wiping the excess scented water with her hair. She gently cradles his foot and she sits on her knees before the eating crowd.

Label TextJean-François de Troy French, 1679-1752 Christ in the House of Simon, 1743 Oil on canvas In Jean-François de Troy’s paintings, devoting yourself to Christ is the pathway to redemption. In both pictures (here and far right), the busy, billowing, and brownish scenes fall away behind the unsullied colors and luminous quality of Jesus and the women bowing at his feet. The women’s bright expressions in particular draw them out of the earthly plane, showing the ecstasy of piety and faith. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.639