Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery

Dateafter 1565

Artist Studio of Pieter Brueghel the Younger (Flemish, 1564-1638)

CultureFlemish

MediumOil on panel

DimensionsSight: 9 5/8 x 13 7/8 in. (24.45 x 35.24 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mary Bernald, in memory of Eugene Bernald, father of Mary Ann Bernald, class of 1963 and grandfather of Justin K. Lowe, class of 2007

On View

Not on view

Period16th c / 17th c

Classification(s)

Painting

MarkingsOn verso, Cloverleaf Panel Maker’s Mark (on other panels from the Younger’s workshop); wax seal stamped: COLLECTION MRK. OOMS/ VENTE MAI 1922/ ANVERS; black stencil: 2 9 6 1 [possibly Y or V]; on a customs sticker affixed to the verso: ANVERS (Contr. E) ANTWERPEN/ U.E. Belg.-Luxemb.E.V./ DOANE-ACC [words arranged in two concentric circles, surrounding an inner circle printed with two shield-like objects]; stamped on customs sticker: J. CORNELLIS/ VERIFICATEUR

BibliographyMarlier, Georges. Pierre Brueghel le Jeune. Brussells: Editions Robert Finck, 1969, p. 88-89, no. 2.; Ertz, Dr. Klaus. Peter Brueghel der Jüngere: die Gemälde mit Kritischem Oeuvrekatalog. Lingen: Luca Verlag, 2000, Vol. 1, p. 385-6, repr. ng. 371; Galerie P. de Boer, Amsterdam, 1934, Cat. no. 13 ProvenanceOoms-Van Eersel Collection; Sold Antwerp May 1922; Sold Fiévez, Brussels December 14, 1931, No. 86; D. Splitter Collection Antwerp 1933; Christie's, London, November 23, 1956, Lot 141; Bernald collection, Ossining, NY; gifted 2002

Vassar Exhibitions

Second Sight: Originality, Duplicity, and the Object

Master Class: Northern European Art 1500-1700 from the Permanent Collection

Exhibition HistorySecond Sight: Originality, Duplicity and the Object, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, January 14 - April 10, 2005;

Master Class: Northern European Art 1500-1700 from the Permanent Collection, Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, April 27 - September 2, 2018

DescriptionIn monochrome colors of white, tan, and brown, the scene depicts the biblical scene from passage John 8:1-8:20. An adulteress woman stands at center with her hands clasped looking down at Jesus who kneels amidst writing "he that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her" in Dutch. Pharisees stands at the right of the composition bent slightly with his mouth open and hands pointing to the words on the ground below. Scribes fill the background of the scene and stone sits in front of Pharisees, representing the punishment of death by stoning for adultery.

Terms

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email loebcollections@vassar.edu