Artwork
Landscape with the Good Samaritan

Landscape with the Good Samaritan is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The work is an oil painting titled Landscape with the Good Samaritan. It depicts a nocturnal riverside scene illuminated by a gentle, dawning light. A solitary, towering tree dominates the right side, its foliage casting deep shadows across the bank. In the distance a bridge spans the water, while small figures traverse a path along the river’s edge.
Subject & Meaning
Central to the composition are two figures positioned near the bridge, appearing to assist a third individual lying on the ground. This arrangement alludes to the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, emphasizing themes of compassion and aid rendered within a tranquil natural setting.
Technique & Style
The artist employs chiaroscuro, contrasting the luminous sky and reflected river light with the dark silhouettes of the tree and surrounding landscape. The soft, early‑morning glow creates a subtle atmospheric effect, while the careful modeling of figures through light and shadow enhances the narrative focus on the act of assistance.
History & Provenance
The painting is recorded as an oil on canvas, though specific details regarding its creation date, original owner, or exhibition history are not provided in the available documentation.
Context
Set against a serene riverine environment, the work integrates a moral story within a landscape tradition that was popular among artists seeking to combine genre narrative with natural scenery. The nocturnal setting and use of light echo broader 17th‑century approaches to dramatizing biblical themes through everyday scenes.
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