The Healing of the Blind of Jericho

A depiction of the miraculous healing of a blind man by Jesus. Nicolas Poussin likely based this on the version of the story from the Gospel of Matthew, in which not one but two blind men are healed.

According to Matthew, at a certain point Jesus leaves the city of Jericho to go to Jerusalem, accompanied by his disciples and a large group of other followers. Upon leaving the city, two blind men ask him to take care of them: "Have mercy on us". The group tries to silence them, but they persist. Jesus asks what he can do for them, to which they reply that they wish to have their eyes opened. Their wishes were then fulfilled.

Poussin shows only a small part of the group and only three disciples (to the right): from left to right, John, Peter, and James.

An interesting detail is that one of the blind men has placed his cane on a stone. Such a cornerstone is often seen as a metaphor for Jesus' role in God's structure. It is therefore as if the blind person also seeks and receives support in that way. The baby in the woman's arms may represent the new covenant: the one between God and Christians.

A merchant from Lyon by the name of Reynon most likely commissioned Poussin for this painting. Through cardinal Richelieu it became part of the collection of king Louis XIV and ultimately ended up in the Louvre.