The Raising of Lazarus 1514

Palma Vecchio’s painting illustrates the biblical narrative of the Raising of Lazarus, likely made in the early 16th century in Venice. In the painting, Christ’s face is turned towards Lazarus, with one hand extended, almost hovering over the body. Lazarus seems suspended between life and death. We can consider the painting as a meditation on the liminal states between the binaries of life and death, male and female. The women in the painting are active participants in this miracle, while the men are spectators. Vecchio’s Lazarus is a compelling tableau of human emotion and spiritual drama, where the possibility of resurrection becomes a canvas for exploring the social and gender dynamics. The painting offers not just a religious scene, but a profound commentary on human experience.