Artwork
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Alessandro Magnasco. It dates from 1727 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Raising of Lazarus, a miracle from the Gospel of John in which Christ restores a dead man to life.
The painting depicts the Raising of Lazarus, a miracle from the Gospel of John in which Christ restores a dead man to life. As a religious work, it belongs to a long iconographic tradition of New Testament miracle scenes, in which the central drama typically centers on the commanding figure of Christ calling Lazarus forth from the tomb, often surrounded by witnesses reacting with awe and astonishment.
Magnasco's treatment of this subject, painted in 1727, fits within the religious genre of his output, and the work is held as a devotional image meant to convey the power of faith and divine intervention over death. The narrative serves as a symbol of resurrection and the promise of eternal life, themes central to Christian theology.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1727, this religious painting by Alessandro Magnasco utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 65.5 cm in height and 83.5 cm in width. It depicts the biblical narrative of the Raising of Lazarus, adhering to the conventions of religious art through its specific subject matter and material composition.
History & Provenance
Alessandro Magnasco executed The Raising of Lazarus in 1727. Created as a religious work, the piece was painted using oil on canvas. The painting measures 65.5 cm in height and 83.5 cm in width.
While the specific circumstances of its commission and its early ownership history are not detailed in the available records, the work is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, which also associates it with the Mauritshuis.
Legacy
Alessandro Magnasco's 1727 work The Raising of Lazarus has been cited as an early example of dramatic chiaroscuro influencing later religious compositions, particularly in its dynamic figure arrangements and emotive intensity. The painting's depiction of a miraculous resurrection scene contributed to renewed interest in narrative-driven sacred art during the 19th century, informing interpretations of divine intervention in contemporary religious discourse. Its compositional strategies are frequently referenced in studies of Baroque-era emotional expression and remain a point of analysis in discussions of religious symbolism in European art.
Overview
The Raising of Lazarus is a 1727 oil painting by Alessandro Magnasco, an Italian late-Baroque artist. It is now held in the Rijksmuseum's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alessandro Magnasco (February 4, 1667 – March 12, 1749), also known as il Lissandrino, was an Italian late-Baroque painter active mostly in Milan and Genoa.
- Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples
Killing of the Children in Bethlehem
Women Gladiators
Transfer of the Ark of the Covenant by David
Death of Meleager
Perseus Confronting Phineus with the Head of Medusa
Christ Blessing the Children ('Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not...')
Initiation of a new Member of the Bentvueghels in Rome (Schildersbent)
Apostles finding a coin inside a fish (Matthew 17:27)
Massacre of the Innocents
Christ Driving the Money-changers from the Temple
The Abduction of the Sabine Women