Christ at Supper with Simon the Pharisee, with the Anointment of Christ’s Feet by Mary Magdalen 1785

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo crafted this drawing depicting ‘Christ at Supper with Simon the Pharisee, with the Anointment of Christ’s Feet by Mary Magdalen’ with pen and wash. The gesture of anointing feet, here with Mary Magdalen, transcends mere cleansing. It's a profound act of humility and reverence. We see echoes of this in ancient rituals, where leaders and deities were honored. Consider how this motif recurs across cultures. Sometimes it manifests as symbolic purification, or even the transfer of power. The presence of the dog is a fascinating paradox. Often a symbol of fidelity and loyalty, here it is included in a religious scene. The dog appears in art history as a symbol of watchfulness, guiding us back to our most primal instincts. This scene, frozen in ink, reminds us that symbols are not static, but living entities, shaped by the currents of time and human experience.