ANTHONY VAN DYCK (1599-1641)
Christ Healing the Paralysed Man
c. 1619Oil on canvas | 120.2 x 148.8 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 405325
Van Dyck completed this work aged twenty, when he was working in Rubens’ studio. The young artist encourages the viewer to participate in the drama, as if we are next in line, waiting to be healed. The bedding of the paralysed man is within our reach, and Christ’s blessing hand seems to project out of the front of the picture plane.