- Christ in the House of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
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This painting by Jacopo Bassano and his son, Francesco, depicts a biblical subject as a scene from daily life. As Jesus and His disciples enter the home of Lazarus, they are welcomed by Lazarus's sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary kneels on the step, Martha shows the guests in, and Lazarus assists in the preparation of food at the table.
Jacopo was trained in Venice but worked in his native town of Bassano, where he ran a workshop with his sons Francesco, Gerolamo, and Leandro. Jacopo and Francesco collaborated closely in the mid-1570s, especially on medium-sized compositions for private collections, such as this work, signed by both artists on the base of the column at left. Several copies and other versions of this work attest to the popularity of the subject.
ProvenanceVincenzo I Gonzaga (1587–1612), Duke of Mantua; possibly Contarini collection, Venice; private collection, England; [Julius Weitzner, New York, until 1959]; Bob Jones University Gallery, Greenville, South Carolina, until 1974; [M. Knoedler & Co., New York]; purchased by the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation, 1979.
Exhibition History"Venetian Painting from the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation," Milwaukee Art Museum, September 14–November 25, 2001.
No Exhibition Title, Old Jail Art Center, Abeline, Texas, February 13–April 15, 2002; Ellen Noel Museum, Odessa, Texas, April 16–June 17, 2002.
No ExhibitionTitle, Palazzo Te, Mantua, Italy, September 1–December 8, 2002.
"Le meraviglie dell collezioni di Mantova da Mantegna a Guido Reni," Il Museo dei Gonzaga, Centro Internazionale D'Arte e di Cultura di Palazzo Te, Mantua, Italy, September 7, 2002–January 12, 2003.
"Still Life Paintings from the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation," Ellen Noël Art Museum, Odessa, Texas, January 5–March 9, 2008.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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