The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man - Abraham Bosse

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Abraham Bosse depicting the biblical parable of Lazarus and the rich man within a contemporary French interior.

Abraham Bosse, a master of the etching technique in seventeenth-century France, produced this work as a moralising narrative. The composition depicts the biblical parable of the rich man, Dives, feasting in a lavish interior while the beggar Lazarus suffers outside. Bosse employs a precise, linear style that captures the textures of contemporary French fashion, from the lace collars to the feathered hats of the diners. The scene is divided by a large window, which serves as a visual boundary between the opulence of the banquet and the destitution of the beggar visible in the background.

Bosse was known for his technical manuals on printmaking, and this work demonstrates his command of perspective and interior space. The room is rendered with architectural clarity, featuring tiled floors and heavy drapery that define the social status of the figures. The figures are arranged in a manner typical of seventeenth-century genre scenes, where the focus remains on the social dynamics and the didactic message of the narrative. Below the image, a lengthy French text provides a commentary on the moral failings of the wealthy and the plight of the poor, a common feature in prints intended for a literate audience of the period.

This print offers a window into the domestic life and social hierarchies of the era. The contrast between the light-filled, structured interior and the stark reality of the beggar outside creates a clear moral dichotomy. Bosse avoids excessive ornamentation, preferring a clean, descriptive approach that allows the narrative to remain the primary focus. The work remains a significant example of how printmakers of the period used their craft to communicate social and religious values to a wider public.