painting (oil): ["The Raising of Lazarus"]

The story of the raising of Lazarus is told in the gospel of John 11:1-44. Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary Magdalene who was miraculously raised from the dead by Jesus. In NCM 1910-56, the scene shows the moment the stone is rolled away from the tomb and Lazarus is commanded by Jesus to "come forth". In John's gospel, Lazarus walks out of the tomb by himself, but in this representation he is lifted, still in a deathlike swoon, by three men. The figure of Christ in a red robe leans towards the naked Lazarus and gestures with both hands for him to rise up. Martha, her hands clasped together in prayer, kneels at Jesus' left. Mary Magdalene, cloaked in red, kneels beside the tomb in the foreground on the right. Virag 13/12/2004, Between 1984 and 1985, a research assistant, Dr. Brendan Cassidy, was employed by Nottingham Castle Museum to research and write a catalogue of the foreign oil paintings in their collection. The catalogue never materialised, but drafts and notes relating to Cassidy's research can be found in the Artist Files and in the Archive at the museum. All references to Cassidy relate to these documents. On the front: There is a significant amount of paint loss on this canvas, particularly on the upper half. There are patches of white which appear to have been laid onto the surface. On the reverse: 1. White, modern label: "186" 2. Label with red border and docked corners: "34195" 3. NCM accession numbers In an earlier examination of the reverse of this painting, notes for which are in the Artist File, other labels were documented which now appear to be missing: 4. On frame: fragment of blue label: "Wm Graham "78" 5. Another fragmentary label: "Lent by Mackenzie" A condition report exists for NCM 1910-56, but it is doubtful that any conservation work was carried out, as the report would seem to be fairly representative of the present (very poor) condition of the canvas. The report by Cowell Restorations, Burton-on-Trent (undated but probably c.1984) states that: "The stretcher is not original but is in good condition. The painting has been glue-lined, the tacking margin having been removed (and the painting apparently cut down). The adhesion between the paint and the priming is good, that between the priming and the canvas is very poor with considerable delaminations and flaking, especially to the top half. There are numerous small old damages and considerable overpainting, especially to the top half of the picture". Virag 13/12/2004, Collection of William Graham M.P. (1817-1885); by marriage to Kenneth Augustus Muir Mackenzie from 1874; on loan to Nottingham Castle Museum (then Midland Counties Art Museum) from 1879; sold in the sale of the William Graham collection at Christie's, 10 April 1886, lot 454 (as Tintoretto), bought by "Gibbs" for 115 guineas; Given by Sir Kenneth Muir Mackenzie to Nottingham Castle Museum, 10/05/1910