Christ and the Adulteress

In the depiction of this scene from St John's Gospel (8, 1-11) the artist employs three-quarter-length figures. Christ stands at the centre of the image wearing a dark robe and a red cloak. He points at the inscription on the parapet with the index finger of his right hand, while linking his left hand under the right arm of the adulteress, who is standing to his left. She is shown as a young woman in contemporary dress – a brocade dress with blue sleeves – with her hair pinned up and her head bowed. She is wearing a decorative pendant around her neck set with precious stones. A group of bearded men stand at the right edge. More figures are shown at the left, one in the foreground appears to hold a pile of stones at the ready. The figurative group is arranged in what appears to be a church interior with a view of a fortress and church through an open arch. The tower of the church rises directly above Christ’s head.

[cda 2021]