Artwork
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Legend of the Magdalene. It dates from 1517 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the biblical moment when Christ calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, a scene symbolizing resurrection and triumph over death.
The painting portrays the biblical moment when Christ calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, a scene symbolizing resurrection and triumph over death. The composition emphasizes the divine authority of Jesus as he raises Lazarus, highlighting themes of faith and miraculous intervention within a religious context.
The work belongs to the religious art genre, reflecting a devotional focus on sacred narratives. Its iconography centers on the miracle of resurrection, underscoring spiritual renewal and the promise of eternal life.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, measuring 129 cm in height and 117 cm in width. Executed circa 1517, it depicts the biblical scene of Lazarus being raised from the dead, with Christ at the center raising his hand. The composition emphasizes the dramatic moment of divine intervention, rendered with a restrained palette and careful modeling of figures characteristic of early 16th-century Northern European religious art.
History & Provenance
The Raising of Lazarus was created in 1517 by the Master of the Legend of the Magdalene, executed in oil paint on panel. The painting measures 129 cm in height by 117 cm in width and depicts the biblical miracle of Lazarus of Bethany, with Jesus Christ as a central figure.
The work is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located. No further details concerning the original commission, intermediate ownership, or acquisition history are documented in the available sources.
The Raising of Lazarus is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. Created in 1517 by the Master of the Legend of the Magdalene, the work is cataloged within the museum's holdings as a religious oil painting on panel. The provided sources confirm the institution's possession of the piece but do not list a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they document any past or future exhibition history for the artwork.
Overview
The Raising of Lazarus, executed in oil in 1517, is attributed to the anonymous Early Netherlandish artist known as the Master of the Legend of the Magdalen. The work belongs to the Northern Renaissance and is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.
Context
The piece reflects the Northern Renaissance’s interest in detailed narrative scenes and the integration of contemporary settings into biblical stories. The background features a river with ships and a harbor, grounding the miracle in a recognizable, everyday environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Legend of the Magdalene
The Master of the Legend of the Magdalen (sometimes called the Master of the Magdalen Legend) was an Early Netherlandish painter active from circa 1483 to 1527.
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