The Pool of Bethesda (St. John, Chapter 5)

The Pool of Bethesda (St. John, Chapter 5) by William Hogarth, created in 1772, is a profound example of late 18th-century British biblical art executed in the precise technique of etching and engraving. Although the artist is best known for his satirical "modern moral subjects," this work demonstrates Hogarth’s enduring commitment to religious and historical themes, revisiting a subject he had previously tackled in a large-scale painting for St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

The print illustrates the New Testament account from the Gospel of John (Chapter 5), depicting the moment Jesus approaches a paralyzed man awaiting a miraculous cure at the Pool of Bethesda. According to scripture, an Angel periodically stirred the waters, healing the first person to enter afterward. Hogarth organizes the composition around the central figures of Jesus and the infirm man, who are surrounded by a throng of desperate Men and Women hoping for relief from various ailments. The inclusion of Angels above the pool emphasizes the divine intervention central to the narrative.

Executed near the end of the artist’s career, this detailed print showcases Hogarth's technical mastery of etching and engraving, utilizing dramatic contrasts and rich textual details to convey the solemnity of the event. The subject matter allowed Hogarth to explore themes of faith, suffering, and charity, fitting the tradition of moralizing art prevalent in the period. This important impression is currently held in the permanent prints collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.