De Priester en Levit gaan den gewonden zonder mededogen voorbij / De Barmhartige Samaritaan

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2233

Art Historical Context

In the etching *De Priester en Lev gaan den gewonden zonderedogen voorbij / Dearmhartige Samaritaan (The Priest and Levite Pass the Wounded Man Without / The Good Samaritan), engraver Claude Augustin Duos captures a pivotal moment from the New Testament in Luke 10:25-37. Created between 1710 and1786, this work illustrates the story's moral contrast: a priest and Levite ignore a roadside victim, while the Samaritan offers aid, underscoring themes of mercy transcending social and religious divides. Such biblical subjects were popular in 18th-century European art, reflecting the era's emphasis on moral instruction amid Enlightenment humanism. Duflos, a skilled reproductive printmaker, employed etching—a technique where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate for detailed, tonal prints—to render this scene with precision on a modest sheet (308 × 191 mm). Etchings like this allowed widespread dissemination of religious narratives, bridging elite paintings and everyday viewers. The verso bears a collector's mark (Lugt 2233), signaling its provenance from a distinguished 18th- or 19th-century collection, adding to its historical allure. This piece invites reflection on compassion's timeless call, blending Duflos's technical mastery with profound cultural resonance in a virtual gallery stroll.