Artwork
Roundel with Christ Healing the Blind Man
Roundel with Christ Healing the Blind Man is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This circular painting, known as a roundel, depicts a pivotal moment from the New Testament.
About this work
Overview
This circular painting, known as a roundel, depicts a pivotal moment from the New Testament. It shows a figure in a purple garment, presumably Christ, performing a miraculous act of healing on a kneeling man. The composition is set against a blue sky and architectural elements, framed by an inscribed border. This format and subject matter were common in devotional art of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The central narrative focuses on the act of restoring sight.
The central narrative focuses on the act of restoring sight. The figure identified as Christ gently touches the eyes of a man who kneels, holding a basket, signifying his former state of blindness and perhaps his humble circumstances. In the upper right, three smaller faces emerge from the clouds, possibly representing divine witnesses or angels, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the miracle.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a visual language characteristic of its era, using light and shadow to define forms and create a sense of depth, a technique known as chiaroscuro. The scene is enclosed within a yellow border featuring black text rendered in Gothic script, a calligraphic style prevalent in medieval manuscripts. This integration of text and image enhances the narrative and decorative qualities of the roundel.
Artist & collection
Roundel with the Crucifixion
Roundel with Christ Bearing the Cross
Roundel with the Circumcision
Roundel with the Baptism of Christ
Roundel with Saint John The Baptist
Roundel with Christ and Zacchaeus
Roundel with Saint John the Baptist
Roundel with Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata
Roundel with the Resurrection
