Artwork
Lazarus and the rich man
Lazarus and the rich man is an oil painting by Barent Fabritius. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Barent Fabritius, a Dutch painter born in 1624, completed the oil on canvas work *Lazarus and the Rich Man* in 1661. The composition belongs to the religious painting tradition and is presently part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents the biblical parable of Lazarus and the rich man, with Lazarus shown alongside a dog and a leper holding a clapper, positioned near a staircase. A secondary tableau on the left features a woman in red serving a tray at a table where two figures sit, while a figure reclines on a bed in the background.
Technique & Style
Fabritius employs a strong chiaroscuro, dividing the canvas into a luminous left side and a shadowed right side. This contrast of light and darkness creates a three‑dimensional effect, emphasizing the figures’ volume and guiding the viewer’s eye through the narrative space.
History & Provenance
Trained with his brothers and probably under Rembrandt’s influence, Fabritius produced a range of biblical, mythological, historical, and portrait works. *Lazarus and the Rich Man* entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Barent or Bernard Pietersz Fabritius (or Fabricius) (bapt. 16 November 1624 – bur. 20 October 1673), was a Dutch painter. Fabritius was born at Middenbeemster, North Holland, the son of Pieter Carelsz. Fabritius. He…
