Offered by GSLR Antiques
Early 19th century French or Italian school, important oil on canvas depicting The Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee, after the original work by Paolo Veronese circa 1560, which is on display at the Royal Palace in Turin, Italy. The painting is presented in its imposing original frame, dating from the Empire-Restoration period and entirely gilded with gold leaf (nearly 15cm thick). Early 19th century, circa 1820.
Our painting may be from an Italian school, or the work of a French painter who came to Italy to perfect his painting skills. It is typical of souvenirs from the Grand Tour, the aristocratic educational journey across Europe made by young men from the highest classes of European society from the 17th to the 19th century, who brought back souvenirs of their travels to furnish their châteaux or private mansions in France.
Set in a palatial setting with a large columned portico, the work presents two passages from the Gospel of Saint Luke
- on the right, Christ, surrounded by the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph, contradicts his host, Simon, and his disciples by defending the woman wiping his feet with her hair. He accepts to be touched by Mary Magdalene, a courtesan whose sins he forgives because she has shown great love. The artist excels in capturing the liveliness of the crowd. To this end, he shifts perspective, captures the figures in unbalanced attitudes, uses particularly expressive gestures and creates striking contrasts of light.
"Gospel according to Luke, chapter 7, verses 36 to 38: 36 A Pharisee asked Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went into the Pharisee's house and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a sinful woman who was in the city, when she heard that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster vessel full of perfume,38 and stood behind at Jesus' feet. She wept, and soon wetted his feet with her tears, then wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with perfume.39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him; he would know that she is a sinner."
- On the left of the picture, Simon the Pharisee illustrates the parable of the rich man and Lazarus: he shows contempt for the beggar who lies dying on the floor of his house, while the dogs eat the crumbs of the meal. The rich man Jesus speaks of here represents the Jewish religious leaders. The rich man's proud class looks down on the poor, the common people, calling them am ha'arèts, or "people of the earth". The beggar, Lazarus, thus represents those people to whom the religious leaders refuse to give the privileges and spiritual nourishment they need. So, like Lazarus, who is covered in ulcers, the people are judged to be spiritually sick, fit only to keep company with dogs.
"Gospel according to Luke, chapter 16, verses 19 to 21: 19 "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and every day led a merry and bright life. 20 A poor man named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with ulcers, 21 and eager to get his fill of the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table; and even the dogs still came and licked his ulcers."
Beautiful painting, spectacularly sized, with vibrant colors. The painter has faithfully reproduced the work of the master Veronese, and the faces are beautiful and well-groomed. The frame, entirely gilded with gold leaf, is superb.
The painting on its original canvas has been well preserved and just cleaned by our restorer, and the gold-leaf frame is very fresh. Traces of wood-eating insects on the stretcher.
Frame dimensions 109 by 134.8cm
Canvas dimensions 80.3 by 108cm
