Masters of the Life of Christ

Masters/James Tissot/The Ointment of the Magdalene

The Ointment of the Magdalene, opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper by James Tissot, 1886–1894

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At a dinner in the house of Simon the Pharisee, a woman kneels at Jesus’ feet, washing them with her tears. The guests stare. Jesus says, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.”

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Where to see it

Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York.

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Image and sources

Image: Brooklyn Museum, via Wikimedia Commons. The work itself is in the public domain.

Masters of the Life of Christ

A free gallery from Weak Things. The paintings and prints shown here are in the public domain, and each painting page credits its image source. In the United States, faithful photographs of public-domain paintings are not copyrightable (Bridgeman v. Corel). Works by Arnold Friberg, Harry Anderson and Del Parson are under copyright and are not shown; their wings link to official sources.

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