Artwork
Christ Healing the Sick
Christ Healing the Sick is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1578 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Christ Healing the Sick is a religious engraving created by French artist Léonard Gaultier around 1578. Characterized by precise linework and formal execution, it showcases a biblical healing scene through meticulous engraving techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a solemn scene of Christ healing a person lying on the ground, surrounded by a serious crowd holding staffs and books. Onlookers gather closely, while a village landscape with a bridge, water, and grazing sheep provides a detailed backdrop.
Technique & Style
Gaultier employed fine lines and shading to achieve depth, evident in the textured clothing and landscape. His style reflects influences from notable engravers of the time, including the Wierix brothers and Crispyn van de Passe.
History & Provenance
Léonard Gaultier, born in Mainz around 1561 and active in Paris until his death in 1641, was a prolific engraver. This work is one of many in his diverse portfolio, which included portraits, religious themes, and other subjects, often from his own designs.
Context
As an engraving, this piece exemplifies the technical skill required to carve detailed images into metal plates, a hallmark of 16th-century printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Léonard Gaultier, or, as he sometimes signed himself, Galter, a French engraver, was born at Mainz about 1561, and died in Paris in 1641.
