Christus und die Samariterin 

Luca Cambiaso rendered this drawing, Christus und die Samariterin, in pen and brown ink in the 16th century, now held in the Städel Museum. The well, a prominent feature in this illustration, is the locus of the encounter between Christ and the Samaritan woman. The well is not merely a source of water, but a symbol laden with cultural and religious significance. We can trace its appearance from ancient Near Eastern art through classical mythology, where sacred springs and fountains were believed to possess healing powers. Consider the Roman Trevi fountain; the idea of the well as a conduit to the divine is ever present. In Cambiaso's depiction, the well serves as a potent symbol of spiritual awakening. It is at this humble site that Christ offers the Samaritan woman "living water," prompting a profound transformation. This scene underscores the way in which everyday objects can become imbued with deep spiritual and emotional significance, reflecting a collective human desire for redemption.