Rembrandt van Rijn - The Woman taken in Adultery 164
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The Woman taken in Adultery 164
83x65cm oil on oak
National Gallery, London, UK
The image is only being used for informational and educational purposes
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From National Gallery, London:
Rembrandt portrays a Bible story about the nature of God's forgiveness for those who sin. The subject comes from the Gospel of Saint John. The Scribes and Pharisees, knowing that Jesus took pity on wrong-doers, tried to catch him condoning disobedience to the Law. They brought a woman to him who had been caught in the act of adultery and said, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?' Christ replied, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her' (John 8: 3-7). In Rembrandt's interpretation, Christ's stature is exaggerated to make him seem taller (and by analogy morally superior) than those trying to trick him.