The Raising of Lazarus (Rembrandt)
The Raising of Lazarus is an
Imagery
The painting shows the moment Lazarus re-awakens from death and rises from his tomb as Christ calls him. Lazarus is in the darker half of the painting while the figures at left are far more illuminated than he. Mary and those assembled look on in amazement as Lazarus comes to life. The painting depicts a parable of spiritual life, the miracle of the hardened sinner receiving first grace (sorrow for sins committed in order to seek penitence and redemption).[1] Rembrandt used chiaroscuro (contrasts of light and dark) in this painting, with the dark interior of the burial cave and the limited torchlight focusing the attention of the viewer and giving the figures impact. This is one of relatively few religious subjects from the New Testament that Rembrandt painted, though there are many such prints.
History
Rembrandt painted The Raising of Lazarus early in his career, while he was still in
Provenance
Raising of Lazarus was owned by Rembrandt for most of his life; it was sold in his bankruptcy sale in 1656.
Gallery
Rembrandt made drawings and etchings on the same theme.
-
etching, c. 1632
-
etching, 1642
-
drawing, 1642
See also
References
- ^ Sister Wendy’s American Collection: LACMA, VHS. (2000; Boston, MA: WGBH/ Spire Films, 2003)
- ^ Wolfgang Stechow, “Rembrandt's representations of the Raising of Lazarus,” Bulletin of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art 19, no. 2 (1973)
- ^ Ben B. Johnson, “Examination and treatment of Rembrandt's Raising of Lazarus,” Bulletin of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art 20, no. 2 (1974)