Simonet´s work is based on a passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke (19: 41) which prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem: “Videns Jesus civitatem flevit super illam” (And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it). Simonet focuses on conveying Christ?s most human aspect, while his intention to offer a realistic depiction led him to travel to Palestine to see the actual Biblical setting and appropriate figure types for his subject. Sent back to Spain to demonstrate his progress during his fourth study year in Rome, the painting won a First Class medal at the International Fine Arts Exhibition in Madrid in 1892.

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