Christ in the House of Martha and Mary

Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (1618)  Diego Velázquez

The Sunday Gospel in the Catholic church covered Luke Chapter 10, when Jesus visited Martha and Mary in Bethany. Martha was busy with hosting duties, while Mary sat listening to Him. Martha asked Jesus to make Mary help, but He praised Mary for choosing what truly matters. Diego Velázquez paints an amazing scene that is commonly interpreted as Jesus, Mary (sitting) and Martha in the background. Jesus is rebuking Martha for complaining about Mary. In the foreground, working, obviously flustered is the maid crushing garlic. The elder woman is reminding her that she cannot find fulfillment alone in hard work. Others interpret the woman in the foreground as Martha and the standing woman in the background as incidental. Either way, the detail in the fish, garlic and other still life elements are outstanding. This painting is house at the National Gallery in London. Its noted on the National Gallery site that the women in the foreground are wearing contemporary 17th century clothing whereas those in the background are wearing clothing from Jesus’ time. They suggest that the women in the foreground could be a contemporary version of Martha and Mary.
Which woman do you think is Martha?

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Martha and Mary Magdalene