Aimé-Nicolas Morot: The Good Samaritan (1880)

(Petit Palais, Paris, France)

A painting by the French artist Aimé-Nicolas Morot (1850-1913). This painting shows a story from the New Testament. According to the story a lawyer approached Jesus ans asked him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered with a question of what is written in the law. The lawyer answered with ""You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, ; and your neighbour as yourself.". But the lawyer was uncertain who the neighbour was. Christ replied with a story. A man was robbed and beaten by robbers and left for dead besides the road. First a priest came along who ignored the beaten man. Then a Levite came, he also ignored the man. Then a Samaritan came - he was moved with compassion and took the beaten man. The Samaritan took care of the wounded man and brought him to an inn for further help. Then Christ said: Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers? The lawyer answered with "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37). Painting from 1880.