Christ and the Samaritan Woman

Art Historical Context

In the intimate drawing *Christ and the Samaritan Woman (1718), Venetian Baroque master Sebastiano Ricci captures a biblical moment from the Gospel of John, where Jesus converses with a Samaritan woman at the well Created late in Ricci's career, this work reflects the artist's flair for dramatic narratives and fluid figures, hallmarks of Venice's vibrant late-Baroque and emerging Rococo styles. Ricci, a pupil of Sebastiano Mazzoni and influenced by Veronese and Tiepolo, often produced such preparatory sketches to refine compositions for larger paintings, blending spiritual depth with theatrical energy. Executed on a modest laid paper sheet (18.9 × 14 cm), the piece employs black chalk for initial underdrawing, overlaid with precise pen lines in brown ink and subtle brown wash for modeling light and shadow. This mixed-media technique—common in 18th-century Italy—allowed artists like Ricci to explore form, movement, and emotion swiftly, making it a window into the creative process. The compact scale invites close contemplation, highlighting Ricci's mastery of gesture and expression in everyday encounters with the divine. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Edith Tanenbaum Rudolf Collection (Department CG-E), this drawing exemplifies how Ricci bridged Baroque grandeur with Rococo elegance, offering visitors a glimpse into the artistry behind Venice's golden age of religious painting.

About the Artist

Sebastiano Ricci · 1659–1734

Sebastiano Ricci (1659–1734) was born in Belluno, in the Venetian Republic, and received his early training in Venice, where he was apprenticed at age twelve to the Milanese painter Federico Cervelli. Some accounts identify Sebastiano Mazzoni as his first master. A youthful scandal involving an unintended pregnancy and a charge of attempted poisoning led to imprisonment in 1678, from which he was ...