Artwork
Christ Healing the Paralytic
Christ Healing the Paralytic is a print by Joseph de Longeuil. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This paper print reproduces the composition of Francesco Bassano’s painting of the biblical episode in which Christ restores a paralytic to health. The image captures a densely populated interior where a figure on the ground reaches toward a robed Christ, surrounded by onlookers who stand or kneel in attentive silence.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the Gospel narrative of Jesus healing a man unable to walk, emphasizing themes of compassion and divine authority. The central interaction between the afflicted individual and Christ underscores the transformative power attributed to the miracle, while the surrounding witnesses convey communal response to the event.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print on paper, the work employs stark chiaroscuro, with illumination descending from above to model faces and hands against deep shadows. This contrast heightens the dramatic tension of the moment and delineates the figures, reflecting the tonal strategies characteristic of Bassano’s original composition.
History & Provenance
The print is a reproduction of Francesco Bassano’s design, created to disseminate the composition beyond the original painting. It is currently held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains accessible for study of both its devotional subject and its printmaking technique.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph de Longeuil turned biblical scenes into prints in the late 1700s. Look at the engraving Christ Healing the Paralytic, where crowds gather around Jesus in soft folds of clothing. His style belongs to the second…
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