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After Bonifazio di Pitati, 'Dives and Lazarus', early 16th century

About the work

A group of wealthy Venetians sits in the portico of a country house. Two of them play instruments while a young Black page holds their music book. They ignore the beggar who holds out his hand for alms, his sores licked by a dog. The painting is disfigured by ingrained dirt, making it difficult to see the details in the background.

The subject is a parable told by Jesus: the rich Dives gives a feast, ignoring the poor beggar Lazarus covered with sores at his gate. Later Lazarus feasts in paradise while Dives goes to hell (Luke 16: 19).

This work has been considered to be a compositional sketch for Bonifazio’s large picture of the same subject painted around 1540 for the Giustiniani family, and now in the Accademia, Venice. However, it is more likely that it is based on the larger work, which was very famous.

Key facts

Full title
Dives and Lazarus
Artist
After Bonifazio di Pitati
Artist dates
1487 - 1553
Date made
early 16th century
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
47 × 84.5 cm
Acquisition credit
Layard Bequest, 1916
Inventory number
NG3106
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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