PROVENANCE: Julius Weitzner, New York and London; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ford Mason to BJU, 1956.

Jan van Scorel studied under Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen and Jan Gossaert. Like many of his contemporaries, van Scorel journeyed to Italy to study the masters of the High Renaissance and Mannerism. He returned to his homeland and introduced a type of painting that fused Italian and Flemish styles. His work influenced many contemporary northern artists, including his student, Maerten van Heemskerck.

This painting retains a markedly northern European feel even though its coloration and mannered poses are distinctly Italian. The scene depicts the moment just after the Samaritan woman says, “When [the Messiah] is come, he will tell us all things” (John 4:25). Christ responds, “I that speak unto thee am he” (v. 26). She approaches Christ while the disciples in the background “[marvel] that he talk[s] with the woman” (v. 27).