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

Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple is a significant print created by the master draftsman Rembrandt van Rijn in 1659. This work, produced during the artist's mature period, is classified as a print, utilizing a complex combination of etching, drypoint, and burin techniques to achieve deep, rich contrasts. Produced during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the piece exemplifies the meticulous craftsmanship characteristic of European graphic arts during the period 1651 to 1700. The deliberate use of drypoint in the shadowing lends a velvety texture to the dark areas, distinguishing Rijn’s highly sought-after prints from those of his contemporaries.

The subject illustrates a pivotal moment from the New Testament, specifically Acts 3, where Peter and John encounter a man lame since birth at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple in Jerusalem. The narrative focuses on the instant of miraculous healing, immediately after Peter famously declares, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Rijn masterfully captures the dramatic tension and emotional exchange between the apostles and the supplicant. Unlike his earlier, more expansive biblical scenes, this composition is notably focused, drawing the viewer’s attention toward the figures’ intense spiritual and psychological connection, framed by the austere, monumental structure of the temple entrance.

This piece demonstrates Rijn’s unparalleled technical versatility in graphic arts during the latter part of his career, prioritizing depth of psychological insight over mere narrative description. The concentration of light and shadow emphasizes the miracle occurring in a public setting, a common theme in Dutch religious art. As one of the celebrated prints housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., the work serves as a cornerstone example of 17th-century religious printmaking. Due to its age and stature, high-resolution reproductions of this influential work are frequently available in the public domain for scholarly study and educational use.