Raising of Lazarus 1306

Editor: Here we have Giotto's "Raising of Lazarus," painted around 1306 in the Scrovegni Chapel. I'm really struck by the reactions of the crowd—some seem shocked, others…well, some seem skeptical. What do you see happening here? Curator: Skepticism! You nailed it! Giotto’s a genius at capturing the human drama. For me, this isn’t just a religious scene, it’s a commentary on belief and doubt. Look at Lazarus—more mummy than man—a literal embodiment of death. And Jesus, calmly commanding life back into him. Notice the figures on the left flinching? They're overwhelmed and unsure. Is this faith or a magic trick to them? Editor: So it's the humanity, rather than just the miracle, that Giotto is emphasizing? The very human experience of the divine. Curator: Exactly. He's asking us, even centuries later, “What would *you* make of such a sight?" And that deep blue behind them, the looming cave. Doesn't it just shout mystery, and the great unknown? I sometimes imagine those colors swirling like my own uncertainties about life, art, everything! What if Giotto isn't showing a miracle at all? Maybe it is about what it awakens within us. What's your impression? Editor: I always focused on Lazarus as the focal point but I love your perspective about what everyone is feeling at the moment. It encourages me to contemplate how this biblical scene might make someone feel in real-time. Curator: Right? This panel is now one of my favourite. What a genius, eh? He paints people, as much as the holy story.