Paulus Caliary Veronensis Invent & Pinxit": Mary Magdalene anointing the feet of Jesus. Copper engraving

Amsterdam: Jacob van Campen, 1749. An imposing engraving, after Paolo Veronese, depicting the anointing of Jesus' feet in Bethany, by Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus.

The anointing of Jesus's head or feet are recorded in the four gospels. Mary of Bethany in the Gospel of John, Chapter 12 (the sister of Martha and Lazarus) anoints Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume: "Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume".

In Mark and Matthew the woman who does the anointing is not named, but the anointing occurred while Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper; in Luke, the anointing is done by an unknown sinful woman who uses perfume as well as her own tears. The anointing has traditionally been associated with Mary Magdalene, the Jewish woman who traveled with Jesus and witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection.

Two joined sheets from the series 'Opera selectiora quæ Titianus Vecellius ... et Paulus Calliari Veronensis'. Light impression would indicate 1749 printing. Central fold, narrow margin. Light brown spotting near title; two tears right side with tiny loss in image (see scan); small tear on left side into image. 31 1/2 x 17"