Luke 16
The Rich Man and Lazarus in Biblical Art
The rich man and Lazarus gives artists a severe parable of wealth, neglect, reversal, and final judgment.
Bible and Art Context
Luke 16 places a suffering poor man at the gate of a rich man who ignores him. Art of the parable sharpens the moral contrast by making poverty, comfort, reversal, and judgment share the same visual world.
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The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Unknown artist, 1700-1800, Print
The print uses sharp contrast to show the parable's warning: wealth without mercy becomes judgment rather than security.
Source: The Met Open AccessQuestions about Rich Man and Lazarus in Art
Where is the rich man and Lazarus in the Bible?
Jesus tells the parable in Luke 16:19-31.
Why is Lazarus often shown at a gate?
The gate shows how close the rich man was to suffering and how deliberately he ignored it.