The artwork, titled “The Good Samaritan,” was created by artist William Hogarth in 1737. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece belongs to the Rococo art movement and falls within the genre of religious painting.
In the artwork, the setting is a pastoral landscape imbued with a sense of drama and tenderness. It depicts a scene from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, where a Samaritan man aids an injured traveler. The Samaritan, clad in a robe of deep red, leans compassionately over the fallen figure of the traveler, who is incapacitated and partially draped in white cloth. To the side, the Samaritan’s horse, adorned with a decorative saddle, stands watchfully. The background features a rocky outcrop and the suggestion of an ethereal sky, adding depth to the scene. Ornate golden scrollwork frames the lower part of the painting, further enhancing its Rococo character. The artwork communicates themes of charity, compassion, and human kindness through its vivid use of color, detailed representation, and emotional resonance.
