"Naomi and Ruth"

The artist depicted the scene after Naomi's sons have both died and she is left in Moab with their widows, Orpah and Ruth. Intent on returning to Israel, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law that they should not accompany her. Orpah returns to her own family but Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law, saying 'wherever you go, I shall go and where you stay, I shall stay. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God'. Russell's treatment of the subject is unusual in that he shows a close-up view of the two main protagonists with the figure of the departing Orpah in the distance. Most depictions of this scene show the figures full-length and standing in a landscape.

John Peter Russell (16 June 1858 – 30 April 1930) was an Australian impressionist painter. He was particularly known for his skill as a colourist.  Russell introduced Henri Matisse to impressionism and to the work of Van Gogh (who was relatively unknown at the time). Matisse's style changed radically, and he would later say "Russell was my teacher, and Russell explained color theory to me.Russell was a close frined of Monet whom he called  "the prince of Impressionists," For many years Russell lived on an island. was inspired by the clear light and bright colors and did all of his painting outdoors.