"Counting the Cost" by James Smetham, 1821-89

Counting the Cost

James Smetham, 1821-89

1855

Oil on canvas

H 107 x W 91.4 cm

Collection: Walker Art Gallery

Accession number: WAG 2652

Bequeathed by Mrs J. A. B. Smetham, 1955

This seems to refer to St Luke 14, 28: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" [Commentary continues below.] — Jacqueline Banerjee

Reproduced via Art UK under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial licence (CC BY-NC). [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]

The landowner, with his wife behind him, is absorbed in his vision of the new work even as he considers how much he will have to pay for it. Beside him stands the architect or factor with the plans. A small, more lightly sketched group passing on the other side of his boundary wonder, perhaps, what his choice will be. it is not an easy one. In St Luke's gospel, Jesus makes clear that becoming a disciple requires much thought and indeed sacrifice. The simplicity of garments and the golden land around the passers-by suggest that they may have made the choice. The rewards, it seems, are greater than the cost. The faces here are all wonderfully expressive.

Created 21 June 2021