Artwork
Christ in the House of Simon the Pharisee
Christ in the House of Simon the Pharisee is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It dates from 1761 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Architectural elements such as columns and a balcony frame the scene, while a warm palette and gentle illumination lend the work a tranquil atmosphere.
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s oil on canvas, dated 1761, portrays a biblical episode set within an interior gathering. The composition centers on a woman attending to a man’s feet, surrounded by onlookers whose expressions range from curiosity to solemnity. Architectural elements such as columns and a balcony frame the scene, while a warm palette and gentle illumination lend the work a tranquil atmosphere. The painting is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates the episode from the Gospel of Luke in which a woman, traditionally identified as a sinner, washes the feet of Simon the Pharisee’s guest—Jesus—symbolizing repentance and humility. The surrounding figures, including Simon and other diners, react with a mixture of surprise and contemplation, highlighting the tension between social convention and the transformative act of service.
Technique & Style
Tiepolo employs a refined chiaroscuro, allowing the light to fall softly on the central figures while receding shadows give depth to the architectural backdrop. His brushwork combines fluidity with precise detailing, especially in the drapery and facial expressions. The warm hues—ochres, amber, and muted reds—enhance the intimate mood and underscore the painter’s late‑Baroque sensibility.
History & Provenance
Executed in the early 1760s, the canvas reflects Tiepolo’s mature period, shortly before his relocation to Spain. After its creation, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces a typical trajectory for 18th‑century religious works, moving from aristocratic ownership to public museum holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
