Artwork
The Ten Lepers are Cleansed
The Ten Lepers are Cleansed 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
Leonard Gaultier, a French engraver born circa 1561 in Mainz and active in Paris until his death in 1641, produced the print *The Ten Lepers are Cleansed* around 1578. Executed as an engraving, the work presents a biblical episode in which ten lepers receive healing from Jesus, a subject drawn from the Gospel of Luke.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a procession of ten figures in antiquated robes moving toward a fortified city.
The image shows a procession of ten figures in antiquated robes moving toward a fortified city. A solitary figure at the front kneels with outstretched hands, setting him apart from the others and suggesting a moment of gratitude or relief after the miracle. A tree separates the group from the city gate, while spired buildings and thick walls loom in the distance, framing the narrative of restoration and entry into communal life.
Technique & Style
Gaultier employed a precise, formal engraving technique, using a graver to render fine lines and a stiff, controlled composition. His approach aligns with the meticulous styles of contemporaries such as the Wierix brothers and Crispyn van de Passe, emphasizing clarity of form and careful delineation of architectural details.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 16th century, the print reflects Gaultier’s Parisian workshop output during a period when religious subjects were popular among collectors. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has survived in several European print collections, attesting to its circulation among patrons of devotional imagery.
Context
The engraving belongs to a broader tradition of Reformation-era religious prints that visualized Gospel narratives for private devotion. Its composition, with a clear foreground figure and a structured background, mirrors the didactic aims of the period, offering viewers an accessible representation of Christ’s healing power.
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.
The Raising of Lazarus
Christ Denounces the Scribes and Pharisees
A Man Born Blind Receives Sight
Christ Heals a Dumb Man
Christ in the Temple
The Canaanite Woman
The Mission of the Seventy
Christ Teaching the Multitude
The Parables of the Lost Sheep, the Woman with Pieces of Silver and the Prodigal Son
Christ and the Centurion