Jacopo Tintoretto, Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples
ca 1575-80Jacopo Tintoretto, Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples
ca 1575-80Paintings sorted by Historical period | Painter | Subject matter | Pigments used
The Story in the Bible
John 13:1-15
King James Version (KJV)
13 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Related Paintings
Overview
Medium: Oil
Support: Canvas
Size: 204.5 x 410.2 cm
Art period: High Renaissance
National Gallery London
Inventory number: NG1130
J. Plesters describes the painting after its thorough cleaning and restoration in the National Gallery in London (1).
“Despite its vicissitudes, the ‘Footwashing’ since its cleaning and restoration can be appreciated not only as a monumental composition, but also as an unusual and individualistic combination of rich colours and ‘chiaroscura’, and above all as an example of the artist’s genius in conjuring up magical effects of light.”
(1) Plesters, J. ‘Tintoretto’s Paintings in the National Gallery: Part I‘. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 3, 1979, pp 3–24.
Pigments
Pigment Analysis
The following pigment analysis is based on the technical examination of the painting in the National Gallery London (1, 2).
1 Blue drapery over the stool: smalt as underpainting overpainted by natural ultramarine.
2 Blue robe of the apostle directly behind Christ: azurite.
3 Bright green robe of the figure seated by the fireplace: malachite mixed with lead white. The shadows are glazed in copper resinate.
4 Crimson robe of Christ: carmine lake (possibly kermes) with highlights in lead white.
5 Deep purple-red cloak of the figure on the extreme left: madder lake.
6 Red-brown tiles on the floor: lac lake.
7 Christ’s halo: lead-tin yellow.
8 orange-yellow robe of St Peter: realgar in the lower layer overpainted with orpiment predominantly in the highlights.
9 Flesh colour: lead white mixed with yellow ochre.
References
(1) Plesters, J. ‘Tintoretto’s Paintings in the National Gallery: Part I‘. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 3, 1979, pp 3–24.
(2) Plesters, J. ‘Tintoretto’s Paintings in the National Gallery: Part II‘. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 4, 1980, pp 32–48.
