Artwork
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Benozzo Gozzoli. It dates from 1494 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Benozzo Gozzoli, a Florentine Renaissance painter who trained with Fra Angelico, completed The Raising of Lazarus around 1494. This painting, likely executed in oil on canvas, showcases his characteristic synthesis of Renaissance naturalism with elements of the International Gothic style, evident in its detailed figures and landscape settings.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts the biblical narrative of Christ resurrecting Lazarus from the dead. A crowd of individuals, some in simple robes and others in more elaborate, brightly colored garments with halos, congregates near a cave entrance. A distant city, trees, and a winding path provide a contextual landscape for the miraculous event.
Technique & Style
Gozzoli's approach blends the expressive detail and narrative focus of the International Gothic tradition with the emerging naturalistic tendencies of the Renaissance. The composition emphasizes vibrant human forms and an intricate landscape. A palette dominated by warm, earthy tones, including golds, browns, and greens, contributes to the painting's overall clarity and visual depth.
History & Provenance
Created by Benozzo Gozzoli, a prominent Italian Renaissance artist from Florence, this painting dates to approximately 1494. Gozzoli, known for his extensive fresco work, including the celebrated Magi Chapel in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, developed a distinctive style. This piece, potentially an oil on canvas, represents his artistic output towards the end of the 15th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Benozzo Gozzoli (pronounced ; born Benozzo di Lese; c. 1421 – 4 October 1497) was an Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. A pupil of Fra Angelico, Gozzoli is best known for a series of murals in the Magi Chapel of…
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Saint Ursula with Two Angels and Donor
The Feast of Herod and the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Madonna and Child with St Francis and the donor Father Jacopo da Montefalco (left) and St Bernard of Siena (right)
