Christ and the Adulteress

Similar to most of the other versions of this pictorial type the painting in Kassel shows Christ in an almost frontal position at the centre of the panel. Paul and Peter are either side behind him, to the left in front of him there is a white haired zealot in armour and a surcoat, to his right the adulteress. The almost semicircular group of figures correlate through glances, gestures or poses: the old man who holds a stone behind his back and has a hat filled with stones ready has just conveyed his grievance to Christ, who looking at him has just replied. He blesses the Sinner who with downcast eyes awaits the judgement and with an affectionate gesture clasps her wrist. While Peter listens to the doctine with a thoughtful expression, Paul points forcefully in the direction of the biblical quotation above the scene. In addition in front of the crowd on the left and right behind the central group there are two men in armour. They contribute formally to the composition through their position at the edge of the painting and the fact that they face the centre. They are soldiers who wish to enforce the law. The one on the right is armed with a mace and a horseman's pick and grabs the woman by her left arm; the similarly armoured hand of an assistant rests on her right arm. The faces of the men in armour are similar to caricatures. The white haired man on the left and the armed man on the right have chunky noses which are bent upwards, a physiognomical perculiarity that is often used in painting to suggest simplicity or blindness.

[Cat. Kassel 1997, 95-96]