Artwork
Landscape with the Good Samaritan
Landscape with the Good Samaritan is a copper painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1599 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *Landscape with the Good Samaritan* is executed on copper and presents a wooded scene in which a fallen figure lies on the ground while another individual leans over him. Distantly, a traveler proceeds along a path, and scattered animals appear amid the foliage under a blue sky dotted with white clouds.
Subject & Meaning
The composition references the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, depicting the moment of compassion when the Samaritan attends to the injured man. The inclusion of a passing figure and surrounding wildlife underscores the contrast between human concern and the indifferent natural world.
Technique & Style
Rendered on a copper support, the painting employs fine, luminous brushwork that takes advantage of the metal’s smooth surface to achieve crisp detail and subtle tonal shifts. The palette relies on cool blues for the sky and clothing, balanced by warmer reds and blacks on the attending figure, creating visual depth across the forested landscape.
History & Provenance
Specific details regarding the artist, date of execution, and ownership history of this copper painting are not documented in the available records. Consequently, its provenance remains uncertain, and further research would be required to trace its origins and previous collections.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
