You probably know Vincent van Gogh. His paintings, such as Starry Night, Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers, and his self-portraits, are instantly recognizable.
But did you know he painted a beautiful biblical scene?
In the final year of his life, while struggling with mental illness at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, Vincent van Gogh painted The Good Samaritan. In this colorful and vivid painting, van Gogh brings Jesus’ parable to life. With his signature swirling brushstrokes and movement, he depicts the Samaritan lifting a wounded traveler onto his donkey.
Van Gogh’s own life, with intense experiences of isolation and rejection, makes his choice of this story all the more powerful. Here was a man who knew suffering and loneliness, yet he chose to paint a scene of mercy. It is a moving depiction of compassion, tenderness, and Christian charity, three things Vincent himself needed at the time.
Religious art like this serves a unique purpose. It does more than illustrate; it draws us into prayer and reflection. We are comforted by visually encountering the tenderness of Christ’s love for us through sacred art. Maybe this is why van Gogh turned to religious art at this point in his life, even when it was a departure from his usual artistic subjects.
Bring home van Gogh’s The Good Samaritan in a beautiful ornate frame and you’ll have an extremely unique piece of religious art that brings color and consolation into any room! Let this masterpiece be a quiet reminder in your home to “go and do likewise.” Available today from The Catholic Company!
