Christ and Sinner

Christ and Sinner
ArtistHenryk Siemiradzki
Year1873
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions250 cm × 499 cm (98 in × 196 in)
LocationState Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg

Christ and Sinner is a large-format painting by the Polish and Russian painter-academist Henryk Siemiradzki (1843-1902). It was completed in 1873 and is currently held in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg (Inventory Zh-5674). The dimensions of the painting are 250 × 499 cm.[1][2][3]

The subject of the painting is related to the story of Christ and the woman taken in adultery described in the Gospel of John. Siemiradzki's interpretation of the theme is analogous to the motifs of Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy's poem The Sinner, which was popular at the time.[4] The composition of the painting can be divided into two sections. On the left is a scene of Christ with his followers, while on the right is a scene of a smartly dressed sinner with an entourage of entertaining men and women.[5]

The painting was commissioned by grand prince Vladimir Alexandrovich and created by Siemiradzki in Rome. In March 1873, the painting was transported to St Petersburg, where it was exhibited at the Academic Exhibition. Siemiradzki was awarded the title of Academician by the Academy of Arts for creating the painting. It was subsequently purchased by the heir to the throne, Alexander Alexandrovich, for 10,000 roubles.[6][7] In 1873, the painting was exhibited at the World's Fair in Vienna, where Siemiradzki was awarded the medal "For Art", marking his first international award.[8]

Painter Ivan Kramskoi wrote that Siemiradzki's painting "makes a stunning impression". However, "Christ with the apostles is somewhat paltry".[9] Critic Vladimir Stasov noted the "brilliant colouring" of the painting, yet wrote that it was "superficial in content" and criticized the images of the sinner, Christ, and the apostles.[10] Art historian Tatiana Karpova observed that in the Christ and Sinner, Siemiradzki pioneered the use of plein air techniques "in a large canvas painted on a subject from the distant past" and that at that time "it was a novelty for Russian art".[11]

  1. ^ State Russian Museum catalogue (1980, p. 296)
  2. ^ State Russian Museum catalogue, vol. 7 (2017, p. 121)
  3. ^ "Семирадский Г. И. — Грешница. 1873" [Siemiradzki G.I. - Christ and Sinner. 1873]. Виртуальный Русский музей — rusmuseumvrm.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
  4. ^ Зорина (2008, p. 18)
  5. ^ Карпова (2008, p. 34)
  6. ^ Лебедева (2006, p. 21)
  7. ^ Зорина (2008, p. 21)
  8. ^ Карпова (2008, p. 38)
  9. ^ Карпова (2008, p. 40)
  10. ^ Stasov (1952, p. 451)
  11. ^ Карпова (2008, p. 53)