The artwork, titled “Christ and the Samaritan woman (Fragment),” was created by the artist Duccio between 1308 and 1311. This religious painting, executed using tempera on wood, is part of the Proto Renaissance movement. It forms a fragment of the “Maesta” series, a monumental altarpiece.
The artwork depicts a biblical scene featuring Christ conversing with the Samaritan woman at the well. The setting is characterized by a marble well through which Jesus is seated, providing a sense of stability and focus to the composition. The Samaritan woman, standing and engaged in dialogue, is depicted with a water pitcher balanced on her head, highlighting her role in the narrative. The use of color is significant, with the vibrant hues of Christ’s garments contrasting with the subdued, earthy tones of the woman’s attire, emphasizing the divine and the mundane. The figures are rendered with a sense of solemnity and grace, typical of the Proto Renaissance style, which bridged earlier medieval conventions with burgeoning naturalism.
