The Good Samaritan
Once I was commissioned to illustrate the story of the Good Samaritan. Knowing little about it, I looked it up and learned about this obscure, almost mutated sect of Judaism that is so small today, were it not for this story they would scarcely be known at all.
The story is told in the Book of Luke. A man is beaten senseless and left to die on the side of the road, where he is bypassed by a priest and a Levite who are both indifferent to his fate. Then a Samaritan takes pity on the wounded man, and hoisting him onto a donkey, takes him to an inn and pays for his lodging so he can heal. A true act of altruism. Of course, no one knows what really happened in this retrojected tale – or if it happened at all. Whether it’s true or not, the story speaks to a timeless phenomenon: tribal pride, which has always been powerful enough to extinguish compassion in the human heart.
It wasn’t for me to question the story – only to depict it. This I did within the dimensions and timeframe of the assignment. I left space for the printed words in the upper right, framed by walls of white Jerusalem stone. I tried to bring forth the suffering of the victim, making him appear innocent; as well as the steady righteousness of his rescuer who leads the donkey with calm resolution, ascending the steps with an upright posture that matches his moral rectitude. Oh, how cliché!
Painting the donkey was challenging. Many hoofed animals have white around their eyes and muzzle, on the front of their neck, under the belly and sometimes on the back haunches. These color changes must blend in with the rest of their fur and be made to look natural. I had to study my reference photos carefully, and be careful not to create a horse. Donkeys have big ears and heads in proportion to their bodies.
As for the Samaritan’s clothing, I totally fudged the draped cloth. Even after doing dozens of Biblical illustrations, I never quite got the hang of it. I guess that’s why classical painters did studies of draped cloth. It certainly wasn’t part of my education as an artist.
The story of the relationship between the Jews and Samaritans of ancient Israel is fraught with complexity that goes far beyond this story. Laws of purity, especially around blood, were strictly observed. The boundaries of different sects even of the same religion both bound people together and kept them apart. The Jews and the Samaritans were enemies during the Roman conquest. For an individual to rise above these divisions took immense courage. We are not so different today, though our boundaries describe different beliefs. As one rabbi put it, history doesn’t exactly repeat itself, but it sure has a way of rhyming.
A good week to all!
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!