Attrib. Joshua Cristall POWS Christ and the Woman of Samaria
An original 19th-century watercolour painting, Attrib. Joshua Cristall POWS, Christ and the Woman of Samaria.
A striking watercolour attributed to Joshua Cristall (1767–1847), considered one of the founders of the English school of watercolours.This biblical subject set against a Claudian landscape shows the meeting of Christ and the Samaritan woman at the well from the Gospel of John. Through this encounter Jesus uses water as a metaphor to teach the lesson that people should not live by carnal pleasure, but that through seeking forgiveness the soul can be refreshed by the well of grace.Joshua Cristall's usual early subjects were classical figures with landscapes, such as his Lycidas, Judgment of Paris, Hylas and the Nymphs, and Diana and Endymion. Claudian landscape sketches by Cristall can be seen in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston; in the present painting the gravity of the biblical subject is elevated by its Claudian setting. The colouring and slightly decorative quality of this watercolour perhaps owe something to Cristall's early work as a painter of porcelain. On heavy wove paper. Presented on a wash line card mount.We acquired this painting with the attribution to Joseph Cristall. Provenance: Abbott & Holder
Dimensions: Height: 16.7cm (6.57") Width: 26.5cm (10.43")
Presented: Unframed.
Medium: Watercolour
Age: 19th-century
Signed: No.
Inscribed:
Dated: --
Condition: The surface of the early heavy wove paper is slightly rubbed causing a slight, uniform speckling across the paint. There is a historic crease across the lower left corner, and some age toning to the paper, visible on the verso. There are other minor imperfections in the paper as created, for example, at the upper right. Please see photos for detail.
Stock number: JM-368
