Good Samaritan, The (after Francesco Bassano)
- Artist: David Teniers II
- Date: 1650-56
- Medium: oil on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the Good Samaritan, The (after Francesco Bassano) by David Teniers II. Created between 1650 and 1656, the work is a modest oil on panel, a typical size for the tiny copies Teniers produced for his ambitious project, the Theatrum Pictorium. In 1660 he published this first printed catalogue of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm’s vast collection, illustrating 243 works, most of them Italian Renaissance masterpieces.
Teniers didn’t merely copy the original; he worked directly from the sources, capturing the composition, color harmony, and subtle brushwork. These small panels were then sent to specialist engravers, who turned them into prints for the catalogue’s readers. Today, 14 of those copies are housed at the Courtauld, the largest single public holding of the series.
The Good Samaritan, The is a window into a lost era. Many of the originals Teniers documented have been altered or disappeared, making his copies invaluable historical documents. At the same time, the painting showcases Teniers’ own technical skill and his keen interest in the art of the past. Watching this work, you can sense the layered conversation between the 17th‑century Flemish copyist and the Italian master he honored.
See it in person
Good Samaritan, The (after Francesco Bassano) hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
