After Ludovico Pozzoserrato, Christ the Samaritan, 1600, Oil on Board

Details

Description

Christ and the samaritan woman at the well
attributable to ludovico pozzoserrato (antwerp c. 1550 – treviso 1605)

oil on … Read more Christ and the samaritan woman at the well
attributable to ludovico pozzoserrato (antwerp c. 1550 – treviso 1605)

oil on panel
37 x 27 cm, framed 52 x 42 cm.

the subject of this refined painting is taken from the gospel of john (4:6-10), which tells of jesus who, tired from his journey to galilee, asked a samaritan woman, notoriously hostile to jews, to offer him water from jacob's well, promising her in return "water that would quench her thirst for eternity."

the theme (one of the most ancient in counter-reformation christian art) celebrated the key concepts of the council of trent: the encounter with the samaritan woman symbolizes the innovation brought by christ, who offers the good news even to those not considered pure jews. Even the location of the event, rather unusual and certainly not religious according to biblical tradition, was rich in historical and salvific meanings and evocations.

the scene takes place within a landscape depicting, according to the new testament story, the city of sychar, where the samaritan woman will arrive to announce the coming of the new messiah.

a strong flemish influence can be discerned in these compositions, highly likely for venetian artists given the massive presence in the lagoon city during the 16th century of artists from flanders and the netherlands. Their art, marked by a keen attention to minute detail, is here combined with venetian colorism and the plastic turning of figures typical of the art of central and northern italy of the time.

in particular, we are inclined to attribute the work to ludovico pozzoserrato, an italianization of lodewyk toeput (antwerp, c. 1550 – treviso, 1605).

originally from antwerp, he arrived in venice around 1582, with brief stays in florence and rome. His pictorial prowess is clearly evidenced by the early critical and commercial success he achieved in the lagoon city, facilitated by a talent capable of adapting his northern european education to the venetian landscape, achieving a synthesis of rare mastery and sensitivity. We can also say that ludovico was able to capture the "international" character of the elegant and cultured mannerism of jacopo tintoretto and paolo veronese, who found in him a highly talented interlocutor.

the work is in very good condition. The painting is being sold with a beautiful gilded frame.

additional information:

the work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less