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Joachim Wtewael, The Raising of Lazarus

Key facts
Full title The Raising of Lazarus
Artist Joachim Wtewael
Artist dates 1566 - 1638
Date made about 1605-10
Medium and support Oil on canvas
Dimensions 131 × 162 cm
Acquisition credit On loan from Wycombe Museum
Inventory number L1171
Location Room 24
Image copyright On loan from Wycombe Museum, © Wycombe Museum
Collection Main Collection
The Raising of Lazarus
Joachim Wtewael

According to the New Testament (John 11), Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus visited his grave and miraculously brought him back to life. The drama of Lazarus’s resurrection offered Wtewael the opportunity to represent excited figures in contorted poses, employing dynamic hand gestures.

The recent restoration of this painting at the National Gallery yielded many intriguing discoveries. The painting served as a model for several copies made by Wtewael and his studio. Wtewael seems to have returned to the picture at a later date and made a number of changes, such as enlarging the size of the basket in the foreground and altering the colours of some of the garments for aesthetic effect.

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More paintings by Joachim Wtewael

The Judgement of Paris
The Judgement of Paris
Joachim Wtewael
Wtewael’s sumptuous picture, full of soft, subtle colour, shows the precursor to the mythological Trojan War. Jupiter, ruler of the gods, has sent Eris (the personification of strife) to provoke a quarrel about which goddess is the most beautiful: Minerva, goddess of war, with her helmet and spea...
Room 24