Artwork
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus is an ink print by the Baroque artist John Baptist Jackson. It dates from 1742 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
John Baptist Jackson’s 1742 chiaroscuro woodcut, titled *The Raising of Lazarus*, presents a biblical tableau rendered in a limited brown palette. The composition centers on the moment of Lazarus’s emergence, surrounded by onlookers, and is distinguished by pronounced contrasts of light and shadow that heighten the scene’s dramatic intensity.
Subject & Meaning
The print visualizes the New Testament miracle in which Jesus commands Lazarus to rise from the tomb. By gathering the figures around the resurrected body, Jackson emphasizes the collective astonishment and spiritual significance of the event, inviting contemplation of faith and renewal.
Technique & Style
Jackson employed the chiaroscuro woodcut method, layering multiple woodblocks inked in various shades of brown. Subtle overprinting and pronounced embossing create a nuanced tonal range, allowing deep shadows and luminous highlights to suggest three‑dimensional space within a print medium.
History & Provenance
A British printmaker active in the eighteenth century, Jackson worked chiefly in Paris and Venice, where he produced works derived from oil paintings rather than from ink drawings. This particular piece is a trial proof, indicating it was part of the experimental process preceding a final edition.
Context
During the mid‑1700s, chiaroscuro woodcuts enjoyed renewed interest among European artists seeking to translate painterly effects into print. Jackson’s approach reflects this trend, combining the precision of woodcut carving with the tonal richness more typical of painted works.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Baptist Jackson (1701–1780) was a British artist, a woodcut printmaker of the eighteenth century.
![The Marriage at Cana [left plate], by John Baptist Jackson](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-baptist-jackson--the-marriage-at-cana-left-plate--22bae83d46cc40b5-w320.webp)
