Lazarus begging amid starving dogs at the rich man’s gate: detail of a 20th century stained glass window in the Oude Kerk or Old Church at Delft, South Holland, Netherlands, depicting the rich man and Lazarus parable related by Jesus in Chapter 16 of the New Testament Gospel of Luke.
Delft, South Holland, Netherlands: Lazarus sits begging for food at a rich man’s gate amid starving, red-mouthed dogs, in this depiction of a biblical parable in a modern stained glass window lighting the city’s Oude Kerk or Old Church. The rich man and Lazarus, also known as Dives and Lazarus, is a parable of Jesus from the 16th chapter of the New Testament Gospel of Luke. Speaking to his disciples and some Pharisees, Jesus told of an how when both the men died, the rich man went to Hell but Lazarus went to Heaven. The rich man, used to his earthly life of luxury, implored Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his wealthy brothers against sharing his fate. However, Abraham replies that if the rich man’s family would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not be convinced even if someone rose from the dead. The Gothic Oude Kerk, founded in 1246, is Delft’s oldest church and is one of its best-known landmarks. A devastating fire in 1536 and a massive gunpowder explosion in 1654, known as the Dutch Thunderclap, destroyed all of the church’s medieval stained glass; most of the windows were then either bricked up or filled with plain glass. A total of 27 new stained glass windows were inserted as the church underwent years of restoration beginning in 1949. Renowned stained glass artist Joep Nicolas (1897-1972) was responsible for 25 of the colourful designs, with the final two completed after his death. They depict biblical stories and commemorate Dutch historical events and personalities such William the Silent, Prince of Orange, and Queen Wilhelmina, who reigned from 1890 to 1948.
Size: 3008px × 2000px
Location: Delft, South Holland, Netherlands.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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