Artwork
Christ and the woman of Canaan
Christ and the woman of Canaan is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Pieter Lastman. It dates from 1617 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1617 by Dutch artist Pieter Lastman, this oil painting portrays the biblical meeting between Jesus and the Canaanite woman. Executed during the early Baroque period, the work now belongs to the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on Christ, clad in a green robe over a pink tunic, surrounded by onlookers. A kneeling woman, identified as the Canaanite petitioner, rests at his feet while a man nearby holds a book, suggesting a narrative moment of supplication and divine response.
Technique & Style
Lastman’s handling emphasizes meticulous rendering of facial expressions, hands, and feet, characteristic of his history paintings. The palette combines muted earth tones with brighter accents, and the spatial arrangement creates a modest depth, guiding the viewer’s eye toward the central figures.
History & Provenance
Painted at the height of Lastman’s career, the work reflects his engagement with Italian Baroque influences while retaining a Northern European attention to detail. It entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Lastman (1583–1633) was a Dutch painter. Lastman is considered important because of his work as a painter of history pieces and because his pupils included Rembrandt and Jan Lievens. In his paintings Lastman paid…
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