Artwork
Den barmhjertige samaritaner
Den barmhjertige samaritaner is an oil painting by Elisa Maria Boglino. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Elisa Maria Boglino’s oil on canvas, completed in 1928, presents a visual interpretation of the biblical Good Samaritan narrative. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s National Gallery of Art (Statens Museum for Kunst). It portrays a compassionate figure in red assisting a fallen companion, set against a gently undulating landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition draws directly from the parable in which a Samaritan aids an injured traveler, emphasizing themes of mercy and altruism. Boglino foregrounds the act of assistance, inviting viewers to contemplate the moral imperative of helping strangers, while the presence of the horse adds a subtle hint of travel and the broader journey of life.
Technique & Style
Careful modeling of light and shadow—chiaroscuro—gives the figures a three‑dimensional presence and guides the eye toward the central act of aid.
Employing a restrained palette, the painter creates a subdued atmosphere that underscores the seriousness of the scene. Careful modeling of light and shadow—chiaroscuro—gives the figures a three‑dimensional presence and guides the eye toward the central act of aid. The background’s soft hills and sparse trees are rendered with loose brushwork, contrasting with the tighter handling of the protagonists.
History & Provenance
Created in the interwar period, the painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings sometime after its completion, though the precise acquisition date is not recorded in the available sources. Its presence in a national collection reflects the institution’s interest in early twentieth‑century European narrative painting and in works by women artists such as Boglino.
Artist & collection
