Artwork
The Good Samaritan
The Good Samaritan is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Francesco Bassano the Younger. It dates from 1575 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Francesco Bassano the Younger created the oil painting *The Good Samaritan* in 1575. Executed during the early Baroque period in Italy, the work portrays a biblical scene set in an open landscape. It is part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates the parable of the Good Samaritan, focusing on a compassionate figure in white clothing who tends to an injured traveler lying on the ground. A donkey and a dog are present, while a third individual watches from beneath a tree and another figure departs with a staff, emphasizing themes of aid and indifference.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil on canvas, the painting displays the early Baroque interest in naturalistic detail and dramatic chiaroscuro. Light falls across the figures, creating a contrast between illuminated bodies and shadowed terrain, while the rolling hills and distant mountains provide a realistic backdrop that enhances the narrative depth.
History & Provenance
The work remained within the Bassano family workshop before entering the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Baroque collection. Its attribution to Francesco Bassano the Younger is supported by stylistic analysis and archival records linking the piece to his 1575 output.
Context
Created at a time when Italian artists were increasingly turning to biblical subjects for moral instruction, the painting reflects contemporary Counter‑Reformation concerns. The depiction of a Samaritan—a figure traditionally viewed with suspicion—offers a visual affirmation of Christian charity, aligning with the period’s emphasis on compassionate action.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Bassano the Younger (Italian: Francesco Bassano il Giovane; 26 January 1549 – 4 July 1592), also called Francesco Giambattista da Ponte or Francesco da Ponte the Younger, was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period.
