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Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi)

Unknown , 1874

Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi), by Unknown, watercolor, 1874
Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi), by Unknown, watercolor, 1874

Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi) is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour presents a biblical tableau set within a gently rolling landscape of hills and trees.

About this work

Overview

This watercolour presents a biblical tableau set within a gently rolling landscape of hills and trees. Central to the composition is a group of figures gathered around a wrapped body, presumed to be Lazarus, while a man in a blue robe gestures toward the scene. Several participants kneel or raise their heads, and a few are encircled by luminous halos, lending a serene, otherworldly atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The image interprets the New Testament episode in which Christ raises Lazarus from the dead. The arrangement of kneeling women and attentive men underscores themes of faith and miracle, while the halos identify the sanctified status of the participants. The calm, almost reverent mood invites contemplation of resurrection and divine intervention rather than dramatic action.

Technique & Style

Executed in transparent watercolour, the work employs a muted palette of earth tones punctuated by soft, glowing halos. Delicate washes convey the misty atmosphere and the gentle contours of the surrounding hills. The figure of the man in blue is rendered with slightly sharper lines, drawing the viewer’s eye to his pointing gesture and reinforcing the narrative focus.

History & Provenance

The painting is a nineteenth‑century copy made in 1874 by Edward Kaiser for the Arundel Society, reproducing an earlier fresco attributed to Buonamico di Martino, known as Buffamalco. After residing in the National Gallery, London, the watercolour entered the collection of its present museum in 1995, where it remains as part of the institution’s holdings on religious art reproductions.

Copy after the painting Posthumous Miracle of St Francis by a follower of Giotto in the Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi
Copy after the painting Posthumous Miracle of St Francis by a follower of Giotto in the Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi, Edward Kaiser

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi)?

Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi) was painted by Unknown in 1874.

Where can I see Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi)?

Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi)?

Copy after The Raising of Lazarus attributed to Buonamico di Martino called Buffamalco in the Lower Church of San Francesco (Assisi) is associated with Impressionism.