Art and the Bible home » art » work by Caravaggio     

Caravaggio: The Raising of Lazarus

Caravaggio 1573 – 1610

The Raising of Lazarus

oil on canvas (380 × 275 cm) — c. 1609
Museo Regionale, Messina

Caravaggio biography

This work is linked to John 11:43

Please scroll down to read more information about this work.

[Send as e-carde-card]

Rate this image:

3
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Lazarus was a friend of Jesus and the brother of Martha and Mary. He fell ill, died, and was buried.

Four days later, Jesus meets the weeping sisters. He is vexed with their lamenting and with bystanders discussing if he and his god can raise the dead like they can cure the blind. To proof that true faith can move mountains, Jesus goes to the grave and calls "Come forth!”

Hearing about this new miracle, the chief priests decide it is time to take action against Jesus. He is becoming increasingly popular and a threat to their position.

The pointing figure strongly resembles Jesus in The Calling of Matthew. The scene does not fully correspond with the text in the gospel; Martha had warned Jesus that "by this time he stinketh", but nobody seems to notice that.

Related art

  • Juan de Flandes: The Raising of Lazarus
  • Anonymous: Multiplication of the Bread
  • Masaccio: Rendering of the Tribute Money (detail)
  • Van Limburg brothers: The Healing of a Possessed
  • Anonymous: The Eight Healings
  • Anonymous: Peter and Jesus Walk on Water
  • Nicolas Poussin: The Healing of the Blind of Jericho
  • Van Limburg brothers: The Multiplication of Bread and Fish
  • Raphael: The Miraculous Draught of Fishes
  • Il Tintoretto: Christ at the Sea of Galilee
  • Ilya Repin: Raising of Jairus' Daughter
  • Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee
  • Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: Hundred Guilder Print
  • Vincent van Gogh: The Raising of Lazarus
  • Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: Martha and Mary at Jesus' Feet
  • Eugène Delacroix: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee
  • Raphael: The Transfiguration
  • Pieter Aertsen: The Healing of the Cripple of Bethesda
  • Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: The Raising of Lazarus (1630)
  • Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: The Raising of Lazarus (1642)
  • Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn: The Raising of Lazarus (1632)
  • Geertgen tot Sint Jans: The raising of Lazarus