The Good Samaritan Placing the Traveler on a Mule

Art Historical Context

In the National Gallery of Art's Rosen Collection, Heinrich Aldegrever's 1554 etching *The Good Samaritan Placing the Traveler a Mule* captures a pivotal moment from the New Testament parable in Luke 10:25-37. Here, the compassionate Samaritan gently lifts the beaten traveler onto a mule after aiding him, embodying Christian virtues of mercy and neighborly love amid a society divided by prejudice. Aldegrever, a prominent German artist of the Northern Renaissance and one of the "Little Masters," specialized in such intricate small-scale prints that brought moral and biblical narratives to a wide audience through affordable reproductions. This work exemplifies Aldegrever's mastery of etching, a technique pioneered in the early 16th century that used acid to etch fluid, expressive lines into a metal plate—offering greater spontaneity than traditional engraving. Measuring modestly, the print's detailed cross-hatching and textures highlight the figures' humanity and the mule's sturdy form, inviting viewers to ponder themes of empathy still resonant today. Created during the Reformation era, it reflects the period's emphasis on personal piety and visual storytelling in Protestant Germany, making sacred lessons accessible beyond church walls.

About the Artist

Heinrich Aldegrever · 1502–1561

Heinrich Aldegrever, born in 1502 in Paderborn, Westphalia, to parents Herman and Katherine Trippenmeker—a family of clog-makers known by the dialect name Trippenmecker—emerged as a multifaceted artist in the German Renaissance. His early training remains undocumented, though he likely apprenticed in a Soest goldsmith's workshop after relocating there around 1525, where he joined the painters' gui...