The Rich Man and Lazarus (The Parables of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ)

Art Historical Context

This wood engraving, created in 1864 by Sir John Everett Millais and engraved by the Dalziel Brothers, illustrates the New Testament parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Millais, a leading figure of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, designed the image as part of a series depicting Christ’s teachings. The detailed scene captures the stark contrast between wealth and poverty, with the richly attired man at his table and the beggar Lazarus at his gate, accompanied by dogs—an element drawn directly from the biblical account. Wood engraving was a vital Victorian technique for reproducing fine art in books and periodicals, allowing intricate lines and tonal depth to reach wide audiences. As a proof impression, this print offers insight into the careful collaboration between designer and engraver, preserving Millais’s characteristic attention to expressive figures and symbolic detail. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work reflects the 19th-century revival of interest in devotional imagery through modern reproductive media. Today it invites viewers to consider timeless themes of compassion and consequence while appreciating the technical artistry that brought biblical stories into Victorian homes.

About the Artist

Dalziel Brothers|Sir John Everett Millais (British|British) · 1839 |1823 –1893 |1906

British, active 1839–93|British, Wooler, Northumberland 1823–1906 Herne Bay, Kent