Artwork

Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple

Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple, by Rembrandt, ink, 1659
Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple, by Rembrandt, ink, 1659

Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1659 print by Rembrandt van Rijn depicts a biblical scene of healing within a temple setting, rendered through a combination of etching, drypoint, and burin techniques.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates the moment when the apostles Peter and John heal a crippled man at the Temple gate, as described in the New Testament (Acts 3:1-10). The composition focuses attention on the healing interaction between the kneeling cripple, the gesturing apostle, and the surrounding witnesses.

Technique & Style

Rembrandt achieved nuanced textures and deep shadows using etching for broad areas, drypoint for fine details, and burin for precise lines. This technical blend imbues the scene with realism, from the folds of clothing to the stone architecture, while strategic darkness heightens the visual impact of the figures.

History & Provenance

Created in 1659, specific details about the print's early ownership and exhibition history are not provided in the available information.

Context

This work reflects Rembrandt's ongoing interest in biblical themes and his experimentation with printmaking techniques during the 1650s, a period of significant artistic innovation for the artist.

Legacy

As one of Rembrandt's later prints, it demonstrates his sustained mastery of mixed printmaking techniques and continues to be studied for its technical and thematic contributions to his oeuvre.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Rembrandt

Artist

Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.