Artwork
Wing of Lazarus triptych with donor and Saint James
Wing of Lazarus triptych with donor and Saint James is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Aertgen van Leyden. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is part of the Wing of Lazarus triptych, a devotional piece reflecting early Netherlandish engagement with saintly cults and liturgical narrative.
The panel depicts the donor presenting himself before Saint James the Elder, set within a religious composition focused on the Raising of Lazarus. This iconography conveys themes of resurrection and divine intervention, with the donor’s presence underscoring personal devotion and intercessory prayer. The work is part of the Wing of Lazarus triptych, a devotional piece reflecting early Netherlandish engagement with saintly cults and liturgical narrative.
The donor’s inclusion alongside Saint James aligns with contemporary practices of private patronage, where patrons positioned themselves within sacred scenes to emphasize spiritual agency and communal piety. The triptych’s structure and iconographic program reflect the theological and artistic conventions of 16th-century Dutch Renaissance art.
Technique & Style
Aertgen van Leyden executed the Wing of Lazarus triptych with donor and Saint James in 1530 using oil paint on a wooden panel. The work measures 69.6 by 28.1 cm. As a religious painting, the composition depicts Saint James the Elder alongside a donor, with its primary narrative subject being the Raising of Lazarus.
History & Provenance
Aertgen van Leyden created the Wing of Lazarus triptych with donor and Saint James in 1530 using oil paint on a panel. The work, which depicts Saint James the Elder alongside a donor and features the raising of Lazarus as its main subject, was conceived as a component of a larger triptych. Currently, the painting is held in the Rijksmuseum, where it is cataloged as SK-A-4751-A and exhibited in hall 0.1.
The Wing of Lazarus triptych with donor and Saint James is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is accessioned under inventory number SK-A-4751-A. The work has been displayed in the museum's hall 0.1, within the religious art collection. Exhibition history includes its permanent display in this location, with no additional exhibition records cited in the source material.
Overview
The Wing of Lazarus triptych with donor and Saint James is a 16th-century oil painting by Aertgen van Leyden, created in 1530. This Northern Renaissance work is a religious painting featuring two male figures in an outdoor setting.
Context
As a Northern Renaissance piece, it reflects the period’s attention to detail and the use of religious themes for devotional and commemorative purposes, likely commissioned for a private chapel or church.
Legacy
While specific influence or notable exhibitions are not highlighted, the work contributes to the understanding of 16th-century Dutch religious art and the techniques of the Northern Renaissance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aertgen Claesz. van Leyden (c. 1498 – c. 1564), also known as Allaert or Aert van Leyden or Aert Claesz. van Leyden, was a 16th-Century Dutch painter, draughtsman and designer of stained glass. Works by this artist can…
Saint Jerome and Donor
Saint Catherine and the Donor's Wife
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Portrait of Dirck van Heemskerck van Beest (....-1545) with his sons and St. John the Baptist
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San Clemente Papa
Saint Vincent Panels, fifth panel