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Daumier has chosen to illustrate the parable of the Good Samaritan. On a narrow, steep mountain road an ass carefully picks its way down the rock-strewn path. It is heavily laden with large bags, and with the barely conscious, injured figure who sits astride it, supported by the attentive figure of the good Samaritan himself.

Although Daumier sketched in the broad outlines of this composition, the vibrant colours and the strong, block-like constructed brushstrokes are not typical of his work. The painting as we see it today has been extensively over-painted by a later hand. Unfortunately we still do not know who was responsible for this, - but we believe it was done sometime between 1888 and 1924.