The Good Samaritan
Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps·c. 1842
Historical Context
Decamps's Good Samaritan, painted around 1842, treats the New Testament parable of compassion with the dramatic chiaroscuro and exotic setting that characterized his Orientalist work. Decamps had traveled through Turkey and the Middle East in 1828, and he continued to set biblical and historical subjects in convincingly observed Middle Eastern landscapes. His treatment of biblical themes through Orientalist eyes brought fresh visual authenticity to familiar narratives.
Technical Analysis
The oil-on-fabric technique employs strong tonal contrasts and rich, warm color to create a dramatic scene. Decamps's characteristic textured brushwork is evident in the rocky landscape, while the figures are modeled with looser, more expressive strokes.
Provenance
Paul Périer, Paris. His collection sale, Paris, 19 December 1846 (lot 2), Le bon Samaritain, 28 x 46 cm, ff 2,405. Galerie B. G. Verte, Paris, 1977. Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin, Cleveland. Bequeathed to the CMA in 1980.
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