Accession Number1994/2.29.5
TitleMary's Well, Nazareth
Artist(s)Felix BonfilsArtist NationalityFrench (culture or style)Object Creation Datecirca 1867-1885 Medium & Supportalbumen print on paper Dimensions 10 15/16 in x 14 in (27.78 cm x 35.56 cm)
Credit LineGift of Margaret and Howard BondSubject matterA group of women gather beneath the rounded stone vault of Mary’s Well in Nazareth, a location traditionally held as the site of the biblical story of the Annunciation. Most of the figures appear to go about their business—some sit and converse, others pour water, and others carry large earthen pitchers on their heads—though three of the women look directly at the viewer. The photograph seeks to capture a scene from the life and habits of these village women, as well as their costume. The unidealized presentation and lack of overt posing of the figures convey the photograph’s documentary, rather than picturesque, goals. This image is one of hundreds of photographs made throughout Bonfils's career which purport to document various landscapes, cityscapes, and people of the eastern Mediterranean.
Physical DescriptionA dozen female figures gather near a stone well; some sit in a group within the structure’s short stone walls while others carry earthen jars to and fro on their heads. Other stone buildings can be seen in the background, suggesting an urban environment.
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Keywords
historic landscapes
pitchers (vessels)
travel photography
urban landscapes
water wells
women (female humans)