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Pilgrims at Emmaus

Maker

(artist)
1566-1638

Title

Pilgrims at Emmaus

Date of Production

(circa) 1600

Medium

pen and brown ink, grey wash on laid paper, with brown ink framing lines

Dimensions

Height: 19.9 cm
Width: 31.1 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.2372

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

This drawing illustrates a narrative from the Biblical Gospel of Luke. Two pilgrims are walking to the village of Emmaus and discussing the recent crucifixion of Christ, when a stranger joins them. The stranger explains that the Messiah will be resurrected after death. Later, when the three sit down for dinner, the stranger blesses and breaks the bread. The pilgrims recognise the man as the risen Christ, who then disappears from their sight.

This composition places Christ centrally between the two pilgrims, identifiable by the halo surrounding his head. His gesticulating right hand, and the fact that both other men turn towards him, suggest that he is depicted as he explains the prophecies regarding the resurrection to the doubting pilgrims.

Provenance

Dr Edward Peart, London and Butterwick (1756/58-1824), L.891; Leverton Harris, London (1864-1926); his sale, Sotheby's (London), 22 May 1928, lot 16; purchased there or at a later Sotheby's sale by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Between Renaissance and Baroque: European Art 1520-1600, Manchester City Art Gallery, Manchester, 1965

Literature

G.L. Conran, Between Renaissance and Baroque: European Art 1520-1600, Manchester City Art Gallery, 1965
cat. no. 397

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: centre: Strasburg lily above "4" above monogram "WR" (Peter Bower had no further information about this mark).

Inscription: Recto: upper right edge, brown ink, signed by the artist: "Joch. Wtteúael". Verso: upper left edge, brown ink: "No 11805"; to the right of this, graphite: "pp"; left centre, graphite: "9"; lower right, brown ink: "No 24 Mar )179 1/6 [this latter figure crossed out]".

Collector's mark: Recto: lower left corner, pen and brown ink: Edward Peart (L.891). Verso: lower left, stamped in black ink three times in different orientations: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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