Christ in the House of Martha and Mary by Johannes Vermeer was created in 1654 – 1656. The painting is in Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh. The size of the work is 158,5 x 141,5 cm and is made of oil on canvas.
This is certainly the largest and one of the earliest surviving paintings by Vermeer. It is also his only known work of a biblical subject. Saint Luke’s Gospel tells of Christ’s visit to the sisters’ house. Christ praised Mary’s willingness to sit and listen to his teachings, unlike Martha who was preoccupied with housekeeping. The strong play of shadow and light, the characterisation of the figures and broad handling of paint were probably inspired by the work of artists from Utrecht, who in turn were influenced by Caravaggio’s art. Given the unusual size and subject-matter it is likely that the painting was a specific commission. Read more in Scottish National Gallery.
About the Artist: Dutch Baroque Period painter Johannes Vermeer specialized in domestic interior scenes of middle-class life. It is unclear where and with whom Vermeer apprenticed as a painter. There is some speculation that Carel Fabritius may have been his teacher. On 29 December 1653, Vermeer became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke, a trade association for painters. The guild’s records make clear that Vermeer did not pay the usual admission fee. It was a year of plague, war, and economic crisis; Vermeer was not alone in experiencing difficult financial circumstances… Read more
You can order this work as an art print on canvas from canvastar.com
