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 profound print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1659. This late-period work utilizes a complex and sophisticated combination of techniques, including etching, drypoint, and burin. The amalgamation of these methods allowed Rijn to achieve a richness of tone and dramatic shading characteristic of his mature style. The specific technical choices result in deeply etched lines contrasted with the velvety drypoint burr, creating strong textural variation and atmospheric effects across the surface of the paper.

The subject matter derives from the biblical Book of Acts (Chapter 3), depicting the miraculous healing performed by the apostles Peter and John near the temple’s Beautiful Gate. Rijn masterfully employs the interplay of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, to heighten the drama, focusing the viewer’s attention specifically on the transformed body of the beggar and the astonished reactions of the surrounding crowd. Created toward the end of the Dutch Golden Age, this piece reflects Rijn’s enduring fascination with psychological depth and religious narrative. His intricate rendering of the onlookers and the apostles’ authoritative poses illustrates the artistic trends prevalent throughout the period 1651 to 1700.

As one of the most compelling religious prints created by the artist, the composition features dense cross-hatching created by the etching process juxtaposed against the soft, atmospheric tone achieved through drypoint, lending the scene intense realism and spiritual gravity. This impression of Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple is a key example of the Dutch master's output and is preserved within the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., serving as a vital reference point for understanding Rijn’s late-career printmaking.