Christ and the Woman of Samaria

This 1724 Christ and the Woman of Samaria in the Royal Collection depicts the encounter at Jacob's Well where Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah to a Samaritan woman—an unusual choice of confidant that the Gospel of John makes central to Christ's ministry across ethnic and social divisions. Ricci renders the intimate conversation with warmth and directness, the landscape providing a quiet setting for theological revelation. Painted in Ricci's final active decade, the work demonstrates his continued engagement with Gospel narrative alongside his mythological and decorative work. The subject's quiet intimacy contrasts with the theatrical altarpieces and ceiling frescoes that made his reputation, revealing the range of registers in which he worked.

The well provides a focal point for the intimate encounter, Ricci rendering the two figures with warm tones and expressive gestures that convey the significance of their theological dialogue.