Christ with Mary and Martha
1605 | Alessandro Allori
On one of his long walks Christ called on the sisters Mary and Martha. When Martha, who was busy serving her guest, complained about her sister who was listening intently to Christ sitting at his feet, he said: “[...] Mary has chosen the better part.” Using a deliberately antiquated painting method full of realistically depicted details, Allori seeks to do full justice to the plain tone of the Gospel as well as the desire of the Counter Reformation for didactic simplicity.
On one of his long walks Christ called on the sisters Mary and Martha. When Martha, who was busy serving her guest, complained about her sister who was listening intently to Christ sitting at his feet, he said: “[...] Mary has chosen the better part.” Using a deliberately antiquated painting method full of realistically depicted details, Allori seeks to do full justice to the plain tone of the Gospel as well as the desire of the Counter Reformation for didactic simplicity.
Artist:
Alessandro Allori (1535 - 1607 Florenz) DNB
Time:
1605
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Italian, middle Italian
Material/technology:
Poplar wood
Dimensions:
125 cm × 118 cm
Framed: 143 cm × 126 cm × 6 cm
Signed
Inscribed on the stone at the right side of the well: A.D.M.DC.V. ALEXANDER BRONZINUS ALLORIUS CIV. FLO. DUM PINGEBAT MELIUS LINEAR NON POTUIT
Inscribed
beschriftet auf der Kartusche im Hintergrund: OPTIMAM PARTEM / ELEGIT
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 1625
Provenance
1792 by trade from Florence to Vienna