Artwork
Lazarus and the Rich Man
Lazarus and the Rich Man is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Jacopo Bassano. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Jacopo Bassano's 1550 oil painting depicts the biblical parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, a narrative centered on the stark contrast between earthly wealth and spiritual poverty. The work functions as a piece of religious art, visually representing the story where a beggar named Lazarus suffers at the gate of a wealthy individual who ignores his plight. By focusing on this specific scriptural episode, the composition serves as a moral commentary on the dangers of avarice and the neglect of the suffering poor, themes central to Christian ethics during the mid-16th century.
Technique & Style
The composition focuses on the narrative interaction between the two main subjects, rendered through the artist's characteristic use of oil media on fabric.
Executed in 1550, this religious painting by Jacopo Bassano utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 99.5 cm in height and 128.5 cm in width. As a depiction of the biblical parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the piece is classified within the genre of religious art.
The composition focuses on the narrative interaction between the two main subjects, rendered through the artist's characteristic use of oil media on fabric.
History & Provenance
Jacopo Bassano painted Lazarus and the Rich Man in 1550. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 99.5 by 128.5 cm. It depicts the biblical parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. According to the Wikidata record for the work, its location is listed as the Rijksmuseum, and it forms part of that institution's collection. No inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources.
No exhibition history is recorded in the sources provided for this facet. The available records document the work's creation date of 1550, its medium of oil paint on canvas, and its dimensions of 99.5 by 128.5, but they do not list any past loans, displays, or exhibitions in which the painting has been shown.
Overview
Jacopo Bassano’s oil on canvas, dated around 1550, interprets the biblical parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and presents the narrative within a domestic interior rather than a conventional heavenly setting.
Context
During the Venetian Renaissance, Bassano was known for integrating genre scenes with religious themes. This work reflects that practice, merging a biblical episode with a bustling domestic environment, a hallmark of his approach to narrative painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Bassano was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school. He was born and died in Bassano del Grappa, and took the village as his surname. Having trained in the workshop of his father, Francesco the…
