Artwork
The Healing of the Lame Man
The Healing of the Lame Man is an oil painting by Raphael. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1515, this oil painting by Raphael portrays the biblical episode of the Healing of the Lame Man. The composition centers on a crowded scene before a columned façade, with a kneeling figure reaching toward a standing companion. A clear sky and distant landscape frame the action, while the work is presently displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The narrative illustrates the moment when Jesus, accompanied by John the Evangelist, heals a man afflicted with paralysis at the Beautiful Gate. The gestures of the kneeling supplicant and the upright recipient emphasize themes of faith, compassion, and divine intervention, reflecting the theological focus of early 16th‑century devotional art.
Technique & Style
Raphael employs a balanced palette of reds, yellows, and muted blues to model the figures, creating spatial depth through overlapping forms and subtle chiaroscuro. The handling of paint shows a controlled impasto in highlighted areas, while fine brushwork renders the intricate details of clothing, architecture, and the surrounding landscape.
History & Provenance
Painted during Raphael’s mature Roman period, the work entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in the early 20th century, where it has been conserved as part of the museum’s European paintings holdings. Its attribution to Raphael has been affirmed by stylistic analysis and documentary evidence linking it to his workshop.
Artist & collection
Artist
Raphael was born Raffaello Sanzio in Urbino on April 6, 1483, the son of Giovanni Santi, a painter and poet attached to the ducal court.
