Description
Duccio depicts Jesus speaking to a Samaritan woman beside Jacob’s well, following the Gospel of John. Christ sits on the left while the woman carries her water vessels; several disciples emerge from the town of Sychar on the right. Once part of the reverse predella of the Maestà in Siena, this small panel combines a traditional gold ground with a growing interest in architecture, gesture and spatial depth.
Christ sits on the masonry of the well while the woman carries the vessels used to draw water. The simplicity of the meeting gives the dialogue exceptional prominence. To the left, the well stands on a stepped platform in the foreground. To the right, Sychar rises as a walled town with gateways, towers and angular buildings. The disciples appear near its entrance and look towards their master.
