Christ Healing a Leper, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1650 - c. 1655

Christ Healing a Leper, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1650 - c. 1655

pen and brown ink, with opaque white; contours indented for transfer; framing line in brown ink, h 147mm × w 177mm Catalogue entry

Christ healed a leper by simply touching him. Rembrandt initially showed Christ taking hold of the afflicted man’s hand. He changed his mind and covered both hands with opaque lead white, which has oxidized over time. Ultimately, he placed Christ’s hand meaningfully on the head of the leper. At the right two disciples look on quietly in wonder.

Catalogue entry