Christ at the home of Mary and Martha

[2] The painting illustrates Luke 10, verses 38–42 in the Bible, when Christ ate at the table of the sisters Martha and Mary.

[2] In the scripture, Martha is doing all the work to serve as hostess to Jesus, while her sister sat with him.

[2] The painting is painted at the moment of the conversation, when Jesus reproves her, saying "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

[2] Like this painting, some such as The Banjo Lesson and Nicodemus visiting Jesus feature multiple lights.

[5] The technique allowed hime to create a pentimento in the shadow under the lamp in the center, between Mary and Jesus.