Artwork

Religio begunstigt Abondantia : Allegorische voorstelling van de verzorging van leprozen en onnozelen

Religio begunstigt Abondantia : Allegorische voorstelling van de verzorging van leprozen en onnozelen is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerard de Lairesse. It dates from 1675 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 183 cm in height and 233 cm in width.

Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 183 cm in height and 233 cm in width.

The handling is characteristic of Dutch allegorical painting of the late seventeenth century, combining smooth modeling of figures with crisp detailing in drapery and attributes. Stylistically, the composition aligns with De Lairesse’s mature manner, where classical allegories are rendered with a cool palette and precise linear articulation. The figures are arranged in a balanced, stage-like space, with allegorical attributes, such as the cornucopia and the act of caring for lepers, rendered with clarity and a restrained palette dominated by earth tones and muted highlights.

History & Provenance

The painting was created by Gerard de Lairesse in 1675, as indicated by the artist’s date and the work’s inclusion in the Amsterdam Museum’s collection.

It is currently held by the Amsterdam Museum, where it is catalogued as part of their holdings. The canvas measures 183 cm in height and 233 cm in width.

The painting is held by the Amsterdam Museum, where it is recorded as part of the city’s civic holdings. Its inventory number at the Amsterdam Museum is not listed in the cited sources. The work was painted in 1675 and measures 183 cm in height by 233 cm in width.

Context

Gerard de Lairesse's 1675 allegorical painting depicting charitable care for lepers and beggars reflects his role in shaping Dutch Golden Age visual narratives of social welfare. The work, housed in Amsterdam, exemplifies his integration of religious allegory with humanitarian themes, bridging Baroque drama and Enlightenment sensibility. Scholars highlight its nuanced portrayal of compassion within elite patronage contexts, positioning it at the intersection of artistic innovation and contemporary moral discourse.

Its formal composition and symbolic richness continue to inform studies of 17th-century European art's engagement with societal concerns.

Overview

Religio begunstigt Abondantia: Allegorische voorstelling van de verzorging van leprozen en onnozelen is a 1675 oil painting by Gerard de Lairesse, a Dutch painter and theorist. The work is an allegory and is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a scene of religious charity and abundance in the care of the sick and vulnerable, featuring allegorical figures in a cloudy sky. A reclining woman holds a round object, while another woman stands above her and a cherub-like figure plays a flute.