Christ and the Woman of Samaria

Benedetto Luti's Christ and the Woman of Samaria, painted around 1715-20 on copper, depicts the New Testament encounter at Jacob's Well. Luti was among the most esteemed painters in early 18th-century Rome, favored by popes and foreign courts for his refined religious compositions and celebrated pastel heads. The intimate copper support and devotional subject suggest this was intended for a private collection or chapel.

Luti's oil-on-copper technique produces luminous, enamel-like effects with rich, saturated colors enhanced by the smooth metallic ground. The refined brushwork and elegant figure types demonstrate the sophisticated late Baroque style that made Luti one of Rome's most sought-after painters.