Jesus with the Sick Woman

Juan Rodríguez Juárez formed one of the groups that flourished during the transitional period stretching from the end of the XVIIth century to the beginning of the XVIIIth. Although this work had been attributed to José de Ibarra, recent research and observations in the Viceregal Painting Seminar (a weekly seminar on viceregal painting carried out by the MUNAL) have tended to ascribe it to Juan Rodríguez Juárez. It belonged to the same series as Jesús con la Samaritana o mujer adúltera. In this piece, the artist illustrates the biblical account that relates how, when Jesus was teaching in the synagogue one Saturday, he called out to a sick woman, promising to heal her. When the head of the synagogue pointed out to the onlooker that curing people on a Saturday was an offense, Jesus replied "Is there any of you who doesn't release his ox or ass from the manger on Saturdays and take it to drink?" Jesus appears at the center of the composition looking kindly at a woman who is kneeling at his right-hand side with a thankful look, while a dog, symbolizing loyalty, rests its front paws on her. Jesus is dressed in red, the color of the blood that he is to spill for the sins of man, and blue, betokening heavenly love, justice, nobility and loyalty. • This painting passed from the San Diego Viceregal Painting Gallery to the MUNAL in the year 2000.