Christ in the House of Simon the Pharisee by Giorgio Vasari

Christ in the House of Simon the Pharisee 1544

natural stone pattern

toned paper

pencil sketch

charcoal drawing

possibly oil pastel

tile art

underpainting

pastel chalk drawing

pencil art

watercolor

Giorgio Vasari's "Christ in the House of Simon the Pharisee" (1544) depicts the biblical scene of Christ dining with Simon the Pharisee, a central figure in the story of the woman who washes Christ's feet with her tears. This black chalk drawing, currently in the Rijksmuseum, focuses on the intimate interaction between the figures, showcasing the artist's interest in detailed anatomical studies and dramatic lighting. The scene unfolds in an architectural setting with a group of figures surrounding a central table, emphasizing the religious and moral themes within the biblical narrative.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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This detailed drawing on blue paper is a study for a mural in a refectory, the dining room of a monastery. Many of its figures are derived from Vasari’s own compositions or those of his contemporaries. They entirely fill the small loggia with its fantastical twisted columns. This horror-vacui, or fear of empty space, was a typical feature of Mannerism, the art movement to which Vasari belonged.