The Rich Man And The Poor Lazarus
1625
Hendrick ter Brugghen serves up a grim biblical parable with a heavy dose of dramatic flair. In the foreground, the ragged Lazarus sits covered in sores while dogs literally lick his wounds—a detail straight from the Gospel of Luke. Meanwhile, just a few feet away, the 'Rich Man' and his friends are enjoying a lavish banquet, completely ignoring the suffering beggar at their doorstep. Ter Brugghen was one of the first Dutch painters to travel to Italy and bring back Caravaggio’s signature moody lighting, using it here to spotlight the stark inequality between the feasting elite and the destitute poor.
- Technique
- Oil painting