The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan by Gustave Moreau, created in France between 1860 and 1875, is a masterful example of the artist’s preparatory and finished drawings, executed in a complex mixed-media technique. Classified as a drawing, the work utilizes watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper, demonstrating Moreau’s meticulous approach to figure modeling and atmospheric rendering. This piece showcases the intense preparatory labor that characterized the work of many 19th-century French masters, blending traditional academic drawing with the emerging emotive qualities of Symbolism. The subject, drawn directly from the New Testament parable, was a frequent vehicle for artists wishing to explore themes of moral virtue, sacrifice, and human compassion.

Moreau’s dramatic use of gouache and watercolor provides depth and saturation, particularly in defining the rugged landscape and the expressive postures of the figures. The inclusion of subtle graphite lines suggests initial compositional studies or highlights, adding textural contrast to the broader color washes. This work is pivotal to understanding the Symbolist transition in French art, moving away from strict realism toward psychological and spiritual narrative.

As a highly regarded drawing within the field of 19th-century French art, this piece is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Scholars often study this work to analyze Moreau’s use of light and shade before finalizing a major painting. The continuing appreciation for this drawing means that high-quality fine art prints derived from the public domain are widely sought by collectors and institutions worldwide.