The artwork titled “The Raising of Lazarus,” created by the Limbourg brothers, belongs to the International Gothic art movement and serves as an illustration within the “Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.” Effused with vividly detailed elements characteristic of the Gothic style, this piece illustrates the biblical event of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus Christ.
The artwork is elaborately detailed with a rich color palette and intricate figures. In the center, Lazarus, partially draped in white fabric, emerges from a marble tomb, gazing upward. His pale, lifeless body contrasts with the vibrant and varied hues of the garments worn by the surrounding figures. To the right, Jesus, depicted with a halo, raises his hand in a gesture of command or blessing, addressing those present. Behind Jesus, a group of onlookers, including mourners and bystanders, express a variety of emotions, from awe to sorrow, conveyed through their postures and facial expressions. The background is composed of a fragmented, architectural structure set against a deep blue, elaborately decorated sky. The foreground of the scene is marked by Latin text, consistent with the illuminated manuscript tradition. This harmonious blend of detailed storytelling and elaborate aesthetics exemplifies the Limbourg brothers’ mastery in the International Gothic style.
