Who painted The Good Samaritan?

The Good Samaritan was painted by John Runciman in 1765.

Where can I see The Good Samaritan?

The Good Samaritan is held by National Galleries Scotland.

Artwork

The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan is an oil painting by John Runciman. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.

About this work

Overview

John Runciman’s oil painting *The Good Samaritan*, executed circa 1765, presents a biblical tableau that belongs to the religious genre. The work is held in the Scottish National Gallery, where it forms part of the museum’s collection of 18th‑century Scottish art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates the well‑known parable in which a wounded traveler receives aid from a compassionate stranger. In the foreground the injured man lies on the ground while a figure kneels to tend his wounds; a horse stands nearby and a distant onlooker observes the act of mercy, emphasizing the moral contrast between indifference and compassion.

Technique & Style

Runciman employs a muted palette dominated by browns and greens, while his brushwork remains loose and expressive, imparting a sense of movement. Strong chiaroscuro creates pronounced light‑and‑dark contrasts, modelling the figures and lending the scene a three‑dimensional quality that heightens its emotional impact.

History & Provenance

The Scottish painter, noted for biblical and literary subjects such as *Flight into Egypt* and *King Lear in the Storm*, produced this work during his mature period. Both *The Good Samaritan* and his other major pieces are now part of the National Gallery of Scotland’s holdings, reflecting the artist’s lasting presence in the country’s artistic heritage.

Artist & collection

Artist

John Runciman

John Runciman (1744 – 1768 or 1769) was a Scottish painter known for Biblical and literary scenes. His works include Flight into Egypt and King Lear in the Storm, both in the National Gallery of Scotland.