Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee
Peter Paul Rubens·1619
Historical Context
Rubens painted the Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee around 1618-20, depicting the biblical scene where a sinful woman anoints Christ's feet at the house of Simon, provoking the Pharisee's disapproval. Rubens transforms the intimate Gospel scene into a monumental composition of figures, architecture, and dramatic gesture. The painting's scale and ambition demonstrate Rubens's aspiration to rival the great Venetian feast paintings of Veronese. Now in the Hermitage Museum, the painting belongs to the outstanding collection of Rubens works assembled by Russian collectors.
Technical Analysis
The composition arranges figures around a richly appointed table in a grand architectural setting, combining the traditions of Venetian feast painting with Rubens' own dynamic figure style. The warm palette and dramatic gestures create a scene of emotional and visual richness.
Look Closer
- ◆Christ reclines at the feast table while the repentant woman washes his feet with her tears and dries them with her hair
- ◆Simon the Pharisee watches with visible disapproval, his furrowed brow and rigid posture expressing moral judgment
- ◆The architectural setting features a grand colonnaded hall, establishing the wealth of Simon's household
- ◆Servants carry elaborate dishes, their activity providing genre-like detail around the central theological drama
Condition & Conservation
This biblical feast scene has been conserved over the centuries. The canvas has been relined. The complex interior lighting, with multiple light sources playing across the figures and architecture, has been well-preserved. Some retouching in the background architectural areas is visible under UV examination.
