Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Nicolas Bertin was primarily a painter of religious, mythological, and allegorical subjects. Although trained in the rigorous French academic traditions, he often emulated the broader style of Titian , Paolo Veronese , and other Venetian Renaissance masters. For his depiction of Christ washing Saint Peter's feet just after the Last Supper (John 13:4-5), Bertin created a majestic, theatrical backdrop reminiscent of those in Veronese's pictures. Through gesture and facial expression Bertin adeptly described a range of emotions, from surprise and puzzlement to humility.

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