Jesus in the Home of Martha and Mary

18th century
Fresco
Church of La Maddalena, Rome

This is the episode recounted in Luke 10:38-42. Martha, standing at the left, asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her out with the serving instead of just sitting there listening to Jesus. The fresco is in the vault at the entrance of the nave. The style is reminiscent of porcelain works of the period. The Magdalene's golden hair, which flowed madly even in medieval images, has been tidied up and beribboned. She is no longer voluptuous but perky.

Read more about images of St. Martha and St. Mary Magdalene.

Photographed at the church by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.