Christ Heals the Man Born Blind & The Woman Taken in Adultery, ca. 1700

Christ Heals the Man Born Blind & The Woman Taken in Adultery, ca. 1700

This large-format engraved sheet, published by Pieter Mortier in Amsterdam around 1700, depicts two dramatic and central episodes from the Gospel of John. The upper engraving represents Christ healing the man blind from birth (John 9:1 to 7). Christ is shown in the midst of a crowded street, extending his hand toward the kneeling blind man. The cityscape in the background provides a vivid architectural setting, underlining the public nature of the miracle. The man’s posture and the presence of witnesses highlight both his desperation and the astonishment of onlookers, capturing the theme of divine compassion and the transformation from darkness to sight.

The lower engraving illustrates the episode of the woman taken in adultery (John 8:2 to 11). Set within the grand colonnades of the temple, the scene is filled with figures pressing around Christ. At the center, he gestures upward while addressing the accusers, declaring, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” The tension of the moment is palpable, with the accusers caught between law and mercy. The artist has carefully arranged the composition to emphasize Christ’s moral authority, set against the rigidity of human judgment.

Together, these engravings convey Christ as the bringer of both physical and spiritual sight, as well as the mediator of divine justice tempered with mercy. Mortier’s engravings, executed with precision and depth, remain a significant example of Dutch biblical illustration at the turn of the eighteenth century.

Condition: Very good impression with wide margins. General age-related toning and light foxing in the lower margin, not affecting the image. Plate marks strongly visible.

Framing tips: A wide ivory mount with a thin black inner line will emphasize the sharp contrasts of the engravings. A dark stained wooden frame or black ebonized frame will provide solemnity, while a gilt frame will lend a more classical, devotional presence.

Technique: Engraving

Maker: Pieter Mortier, Amsterdam, ca. 1700