Artwork
St Paul Healing the Cripple at Lystra
St Paul Healing the Cripple at Lystra is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Karel Dujardin. It dates from 1663 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Karel Dujardin's 1663 oil painting, St Paul Healing the Cripple at Lystra, depicts a pivotal biblical event. This work showcases the Dutch Golden Age painter's engagement with religious themes, a departure from his more typical Italianate landscapes and genre scenes. It is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum collection, representing a significant example of religious art from the period.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates the moment from the Acts of the Apostles when Saint Paul miraculously restores a lame man's ability to walk in Lystra.
The painting illustrates the moment from the Acts of the Apostles when Saint Paul miraculously restores a lame man's ability to walk in Lystra. The central drama unfolds with Paul, identifiable by his vibrant red and orange robes, extending his hand towards the kneeling man, whose tattered clothing and crutch emphasize his prior infirmity. A surrounding crowd observes the event with intense focus.
Technique & Style
Dujardin employs a dramatic visual approach, centering the action around Saint Paul and the man he heals. The composition is enhanced by the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that utilizes strong contrasts between light and shadow to create a sense of depth and heighten the emotional intensity of the scene. Grand columns and a cloudy sky in the background contribute to the solemnity of the biblical narrative.
Context
While Karel Dujardin is predominantly recognized for his Italianate landscapes and everyday genre scenes, St Paul Healing the Cripple at Lystra represents his contribution to religious painting. During the Dutch Golden Age, artists explored a diverse range of subjects, and Dujardin's engagement with this biblical narrative reflects the period's broader artistic interests beyond secular themes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Karel Dujardin (September 27, 1626 – November 20, 1678) was a Dutch Golden Age painter.
