Artwork
Olieskitse til Jesus og Samaritanerinden ved brønden
Olieskitse til Jesus og Samaritanerinden ved brønden is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Anton Dorph. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1896, this oil sketch portrays the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1896, this oil sketch portrays the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. The composition places the two figures beside a stone well, set against a verdant landscape that recedes toward a clear sky. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst, in Copenhagen.
Subject & Meaning
The scene draws from the Gospel of John, where Jesus engages the Samaritan woman in dialogue about “living water.” The woman, depicted in a light yellow dress and head covering, rests her hand on her chin, suggesting contemplation, while the seated figure in a red robe listens attentively, emphasizing the exchange of spiritual insight.
Technique & Style
Executed in a post‑impressionist manner, the sketch employs loose brushwork and a vivid palette that accentuates the contrast between the warm reds of the man's robe and the cool greens of the surrounding foliage. Subtle chiaroscuro models the forms, while the overall handling conveys a sense of immediacy rather than detailed realism.
History & Provenance
Anton Dorph, a Danish painter noted for altarpieces and maritime subjects, produced this work as part of a series of religious canvases. After its completion, the piece entered the holdings of Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on view as an example of Dorph’s late‑career devotional output.
Context
The painting reflects a broader 19th‑century interest among Scandinavian artists in biblical narratives rendered with contemporary artistic vocabularies. Dorph’s focus on everyday figures—here a fisherman‑like man and a modestly dressed woman—aligns with his recurring interest in portraying ordinary laborers within sacred stories.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anton Laurids Johannes Dorph (15 February 1831, in Horsens – 12 January 1914, in Copenhagen) was a Danish painter who is remembered for his altarpieces and his paintings of fishermen.
