The Parable of the Good Samaritan - Hans Collaert the Elder

A detailed sixteenth-century engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder depicting the biblical scene of the Good Samaritan tending to a wounded traveller.

This engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder depicts the biblical narrative of the Good Samaritan. The composition focuses on the central act of mercy, where the Samaritan tends to the wounds of the traveller who was left by the roadside. Collaert employs a precise, linear technique characteristic of the Flemish printmaking tradition during the sixteenth century. The figures are rendered with anatomical attention, while the background provides a sense of depth through the inclusion of a distant landscape and architectural elements.

To the left, a figure sits with an open book, providing a contemplative counterpoint to the physical action occurring in the foreground. The horse, positioned behind the Samaritan, adds a sense of scale and realism to the scene. The inclusion of Latin text at the base of the print serves to identify the subject and provide moral context, a common practice in religious prints of this period. The work demonstrates the technical skill of the Collaert family, who were active in Antwerp and contributed significantly to the dissemination of religious and mythological imagery through their engravings.

Collaert uses hatching and cross-hatching to create volume and shadow, defining the musculature of the figures and the textures of the drapery. The scene is set in a natural environment, with trees and rocky terrain framing the primary action. This print reflects the interest in humanistic and religious themes that occupied artists in the Low Countries during the late Renaissance. The clarity of the line work and the balanced arrangement of the figures allow the viewer to engage with the narrative directly. This piece is an example of the high standard of craftsmanship found in sixteenth-century print production, where technical precision was applied to convey complex moral stories.