Where can I see Saints Peter and John Heal a Cripple at the Gate of the Temple?

Saints Peter and John Heal a Cripple at the Gate of the Temple is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saints Peter and John Heal a Cripple at the Gate of the Temple?

Saints Peter and John Heal a Cripple at the Gate of the Temple is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saints Peter and John Heal a Cripple at the Gate of the Temple

Saints Peter and John Heal a Cripple at the Gate of the Temple is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Philip Galle. It dates from 1574 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Philip Galle’s 1574 engraving portrays the biblical episode in which the apostles Peter and John cure a crippled man at the temple’s entrance. Executed as a print, the image captures a bustling crowd gathered around the miracle, emphasizing both the act of healing and the surrounding public setting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on two figures in distinct robes—Peter, the elder, and John, the younger—who support the lame individual as he rises. Spectators surround them, some kneeling, others leaning on canes, while a child lies nearby, suggesting a range of reactions from reverence to curiosity within the sacred space.

Technique & Style

Galle employs delicate line work to model the drapery and architectural elements, using chiaroscuro to separate figures from the stone backdrop. The fine incisions create a sense of depth, particularly in the folds of clothing and the shadows cast by the arches and columns that frame the scene.

History & Provenance

As part of Galle’s extensive series of reproductive prints, this engraving served to circulate well‑known religious narratives beyond the original paintings. The Dutch publisher and engraver was noted for reproducing works of earlier masters, thereby extending their visual influence throughout Europe in the late sixteenth century.

Artist & collection

Artist

Philip Galle

Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.