Christus geneest de man met een verdorde hand

About this artwork

height 98 mm x width 141 mm

Art Historical Context

Welcome to our virtual gallery, where we encounter the delicate "Christus geneest man met een verdorde" (Christ Heals the Man with the Withered Hand), created by enigmatic Master of Delft in 1503. This work captures a pivotal biblical miracle from the Gospels, where Jesus restores a man's withered hand on the Sabbath, religious authorities and emphasizing compassion over rigid law. Rendered on paper—a rare and precious medium for the time—this small gem measures just 98 mm high by 141 mm wide, suggesting it may have been a preparatory drawing, study, or even a collector's sketch rather than a grand altarpiece. The Master of Delft, an anonymous early Netherlandish artist active around 1500 in the prosperous Dutch city of Delft, exemplifies the Northern Renaissance's focus on detailed religious narratives. Working on paper highlights the era's growing appreciation for portable, affordable supports, allowing artists to experiment with techniques like ink, chalk, or silverpoint before committing to panel or canvas. This piece reflects the period's devotion to Gospel stories, blending spiritual fervor with emerging realism in a compact format ideal for personal devotion. Its survival as a modest paper artifact underscores the cultural importance of such works in late medieval households, bridging elite patronage and everyday piety. A testament to the Master's skill in evoking divine intervention through subtle linework, it invites us to ponder faith's quiet miracles.

About the Artist

Master of Delft · 1460–1560

Comment on works: Religious