Lazarus and the Rich Man 1661

Barent Fabritius painted "Lazarus and the Rich Man" in the Dutch Republic sometime in the mid-17th century. It depicts a biblical parable about inequity, contrasting the lavish lifestyle of a wealthy man with the suffering of the beggar, Lazarus. Fabritius's painting visualizes the vast social and economic disparities that characterized Dutch society during its Golden Age. We see the rich man feasting at a table laden with food and servants, while Lazarus is shown in the lower corner, begging for scraps. In the background, there is an angel carrying Lazarus' soul to heaven while the rich man burns in hell. The work uses visual codes, like the rich man's fine clothes, to emphasize social hierarchies and the moral consequences of wealth. By portraying the biblical narrative in a contemporary setting, Fabritius critiques the social structures of his own time, offering a progressive commentary on the ethical responsibilities of the wealthy. Historical research into Dutch social history and religious beliefs will help us better understand the work's critique of inequity and its reflection on the cultural values of the Dutch Golden Age.