The Raising of Lazarus: The Larger Plate

Art Historical Context

In the early 1630s, Rembrandt van Rijn, Dutch Baroque master renowned for his dramatic use of light and shadow, created *The Raising of Lazarus: Larger Plate*, an etching and engraving depicting the biblical miracle from the Gospel of John. Here, Jesus commands Lazarus to rise from the tomb, surrounded by an awestruck crowd of men—some gripping swords, evoking the tension and immediacy of the moment. This "larger plate" version captures Rembrandt's emerging genius at age 26, blending profound religious narrative with human emotion in a compact print format. Rembrandt's technical innovation shines in this work's medium: etching allows fluid, spontaneous lines, while engraving adds precise burrs for velvety depth. This impression represents New Hollstein's seventh state of nine, a later refinement where the artist burnished and reworked the copper plate, enhancing contrasts and textures. Such progressive states reveal his meticulous process, making each print a unique snapshot of creation—prized by collectors then and now. Acquired as a gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917 by Henry Walters, this 14 5/8 × 10 3/16 in. sheet exemplifies Rembrandt's pivotal role in elevating printmaking to fine art, influencing generations with its theatrical chiaroscuro and spiritual intensity. A must-see for understanding 17th-century Dutch mastery!

About the Artist

Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) · 1606–1669

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) stands as one of the greatest visual artists in the history of Western art and the most important Dutch painter of the 17th century. Born in Leiden to a prosperous miller's family, Rembrandt transformed painting through his revolutionary use of light and shadow, his psychological depth in portraiture, and his elevation of etching to a fine art. His approx...