A 17th-century Dutch artist Abraham Willaerts dedicated this painting to a specific episode in the life of Jesus Christ. The Savior stands in a fishing boat preaching to people on the shore.
Christ Preaching from the Lake of Gennesaret
Creation period
1643
Dimensions
95x153 cm
Technique
oil on wood
Collection
4
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Abraham Willaerts
Christ Preaching from the Lake of Gennesaret
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‘Once when he was standing on the shore of the Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up … He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd.’
— this is how the episode is described in the Holy Scripture.
Christ addressed this sermon to his disciples/apostles. When the sermon was over, the fishermen who let him use their boat complained that they could not catch any fish. As a sign of gratitude, the preacher gave them a good catch that day.
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In the painting, the artist did not in any way separate the figure of Jesus from other people, placing him in the centre of the boat’s stern. On the shore, Willaerts portrayed a crowd with everyone engaged in their daily activities. A family is playing with a dog, a woman is rocking a baby in her arms, men dressed in red robes are holding a musical instrument.
Such a combination of a religious story and scenes from everyday life is typical of Dutch art of the time.
Abraham Willaerts learnt his art from his father, marine painter Adam Willaerts. He created numerous paintings of rough seas and focused on the accuracy of ship details – it was a characteristic feature of his art. One of such paintings featuring raging elements, entitled Stormy Sea, is exhibited at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
Such a combination of a religious story and scenes from everyday life is typical of Dutch art of the time.
Abraham Willaerts learnt his art from his father, marine painter Adam Willaerts. He created numerous paintings of rough seas and focused on the accuracy of ship details – it was a characteristic feature of his art. One of such paintings featuring raging elements, entitled Stormy Sea, is exhibited at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
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Adam Willaerts, Stormy Sea (1626). Oil on wood. State Hermitage collection
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His fascination with seascape passed on to his son. In his painting Christ Preaching from the Lake of Gennesaret Abraham Willaerts depicted the sea surface and ship sails in detail. However, the artist was not entirely accurate from the historical viewpoint. Rather than a lake, the landscape in the painting resembles the shore of his native North Sea – grey clouds, an overcast sky. In order to make it look more like the Lake of Genisaret, the artist borrowed some oriental details from other masters. He added fortress castles, painted people dressed in oriental garments and made a rockier shore.
Willaerts chose muted colour shades: brown, green, ocher, grey. These colors conveyed the specific features of the area – moist seaside air, the heat, the sun that covered the clouds and soft light.
The painting used to be part of the collection owned by entrepreneur and perfumer Heinrich (Henri) Brocard. He was a famous collector of Western European paintings. Then it was given to the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, and in 1933 it came to the Radischev Museum.
Willaerts chose muted colour shades: brown, green, ocher, grey. These colors conveyed the specific features of the area – moist seaside air, the heat, the sun that covered the clouds and soft light.
The painting used to be part of the collection owned by entrepreneur and perfumer Heinrich (Henri) Brocard. He was a famous collector of Western European paintings. Then it was given to the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, and in 1933 it came to the Radischev Museum.
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A.N. Radishchev Saratov State Museum of Fine Arts
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Christ Preaching from the Lake of Gennesaret
Creation period
1643
Dimensions
95x153 cm
Technique
oil on wood
Collection
4
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