This painting illustrates an episode from St Luke’s Gospel (10: 38–42) that was particularly important for Denis, since his young wife’s name was Marthe (the French version of Martha). Their marriage produced seven children. Here the artist seems to juxtapose, but also gather on one side, dark and light aspects of female nature: the identical facial features and opposite colours of clothing are easy to interpret in the context of the Symbolists’ world-view. The entire composition is permeated with images and allegories: the house in the background should be taken as a repository of knowledge, the fruits on Martha’s tray are symbols of both Original Sin (the apple) and of Christ (grapes), the vessel on the table is a wellspring of wisdom, a source of pure faith and love.
Author:
Title:
Martha and Mary
Place:
Date:
Technique:
oil on canvas
Dimensions:
77x116 cm
Acquisition date:
Entered the Hermitage in 1948; handed over from the State Museum of New Western Art in Moscow; originally in the Sergei Shchukin collection
Inventory Number:
ГЭ-9124
Category:
Collection:
Subcollection:
