The Foot Washing

This painting illustrates the occasion when "Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from the essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair" (John 12:3, NLT). Jesus, his hand outstretched over her head in a gesture of blessing and protection, defends Mary from Judas’ criticism of extravagance by pointing out the unique opportunity Mary had: "You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me" (John 12:8). Many readers see Mary’s actions as an anointing in preparation for his imminent death.

Pictorially, the face of Mary, her hands, and Jesus’ foot tied together with her hair meld into each other, forming a new anatomy that symbolizes Mary’s exemplary love for Jesus.

The empty alabaster jar in the foreground, which had contained the expensive perfume, echoes Mary’s complete emptying of her heart in adoration of her Lord.