The Raising of Lazarus by Aertgen van Leyden
This powerful painting, *The Raising of Lazarus*, created around 1530 by Aertgen van Leyden, now resides in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Notice the dramatic chiaroscuro and the vibrant colors, typical of the Mannerist style. The figures react with awe and reverence to Lazarus emerging from his tomb, still bound by grave bandages.
For centuries, van Leyden's works, including this one, were often misattributed due to his highly diverse artistic style. It wasn't until the 20th century that art historians were able to confidently identify a number of paintings as his own, including this significant piece. His training as a stained-glass designer also influenced his strong contrasts of light and color.
It’s a reminder that even well-documented works of art can have complex and evolving histories.
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Transcript
This dramatic painting tells a familiar biblical story. It was painted around 1530 in the Dutch city of Leiden. The artist, Aertgen van Leyden, was the son of a fuller. But for centuries, this painting was attributed to others. Van Leyden's style was so diverse, attribution was difficult. Only in the 20th century was it firmly attributed to him.