Pieter Aertsen: Christ in the House of Martha and Mary (1553)

(Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Dutch artist Pieter Aertsen (1508-1575). This piece is a so-called 'kitchen scene' and typical of those, it is combined with a religious subject is set within Renaissance architecture. The scene in the foreground shows a wide variety of food such as vegetables, cheese, meat and fruit while several people are gathered around the fireplace. In the background is the story of Christ in the house of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42):

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary (of Bethany), who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her"

The roses and white lilies in the foreground usually refer to the virgin Mary but it is for me unclear why the are referring to her. Painting from 1553.