Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery

Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery, painted by Bruegel in 1565, depicts the Gospel episode where Jesus challenges the accusers of an adulterous woman with the words "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." The painting is executed in grisaille (gray monochrome), an unusual technique for Bruegel that may reflect the influence of Netherlandish manuscript illumination. The subject of mercy versus rigid law had obvious resonance during the period of religious persecution in the Netherlands.

The grisaille technique creates a sculptural, relief-like effect that focuses attention on the figures' gestures and expressions without the distraction of color. Bruegel's precise rendering of individual faces within the crowd demonstrates his extraordinary ability to convey character.