Ruth in Boaz's Field. Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872). 1828. Oil on canvas, 59 x 70 cm. National Gallery, London NG6570. Click on image to enlarge it.

Commentary from the National Gallery website

This picture was painted in Munich, based on drawings made a few years earlier in Italy. The artist had spent ten years in that country, and was a leading figure in a group of German and Austrian artists named the Nazarenes who sought to invest modern painting with the purity of form and spiritual values that they saw in Renaissance art.

The subject is taken from the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Here the Moabite Ruth is gleaning (gathering up corn left after the harvest) to support her widowed mother-in-law. The landowner Boaz who talks to her has come to show his admiration for her support for her family. The two eventually married, and King David, Mary, Joseph and Jesus were among their descendants.


Created 10 June 2016