David Teniers I
Flemish, 1582 ‑ 1649
The Raising of Lazarus, 1630s or later
Oil on canvas
28 9/16 × 23 3/8 in. (72.5 × 59.4 cm.)
Museum purchase, Preston Pope Satterwhite Fund  1981.14

A Miraculous Return from the Dead
In the Bible, the story of Lazarus relates one of Jesus Christ’s miracles. Three days after Lazarus unexpectedly became ill and died, his distraught sisters Mary and Martha went to Jesus to beg him to bring Lazarus back to life. In front of several witnesses, Jesus appeared at the tomb and miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead. In this scene, Jesus, who raises his right hand to heaven, points at Lazarus who is still partially in his burial shroud. At the left, Mary and Martha gesture in astonishment as their brother shows signs of life.