Artwork
The foot washing
The foot washing is an oil painting by the Contemporary Realist artist Han van Meegeren. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Han van Meegeren created it in 1940 in the Netherlands, employing the conventional oil paint medium on a stretched canvas support.
The work is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 122 cm by 102 cm, and depicts Mary of Bethany anointing Christ's feet. Han van Meegeren created it in 1940 in the Netherlands, employing the conventional oil paint medium on a stretched canvas support. The painting retains its original handling characteristics typical of mid‑twentieth‑century Dutch religious works, and its formal composition emphasizes the intimate gesture of the anointing, rendered with smooth brushwork and a restrained palette.
The condition of the piece is stable, showing no significant deterioration, and its stylistic qualities align with van Meegeren's later religious genre paintings, characterized by clear outlines and a polished finish.
History & Provenance
The work was painted in 1940 by Han van Meegeren in the Netherlands. It depicts the biblical scene of Mary of Bethany anointing Christ’s feet. The painting is executed in oil on canvas and measures 122 cm in height by 102 cm in width.
Han van Meegeren's 1940 painting The Foot Washing is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. The work, executed in oil on canvas, remains part of the museum's permanent holdings. Specific inventory or accession numbers for the piece are not provided in the available records. The sources do not document a history of public exhibitions for this specific artwork.
Overview
The Foot Washing is a 1940 oil painting by Dutch artist Han van Meegeren, belonging to the religious genre and housed in the Rijksmuseum collection.
Subject & Meaning
Depicting a serene, intimate scene, the painting shows a seated figure in a blue robe, central among five, with a kneeling woman conveying reverence, suggesting a biblical narrative of humility and service.
Context
While van Meegeren's primary notoriety stems from his forgeries, this painting reflects his concurrent work in contemporary realism, set apart by its religious subject matter.
Legacy
The Foot Washing remains part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, offering insight into van Meegeren's diverse artistic output beyond his infamous forgeries.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Henricus Antonius "Han" van Meegeren (Dutch pronunciation:; 10 October 1889 – 30 December 1947) was a Dutch painter and portraitist, considered one of the most ingenious art forgers of the 20th century.
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