The Lame Man Healed by Peter and John - Simon Gribelin

A detailed 1707 engraving by Simon Gribelin, depicting the biblical healing of the lame man at the temple gate, based on the Raphael Cartoons.

This print by Simon Gribelin depicts the biblical narrative from Acts 3, where the apostles Peter and John heal a man unable to walk at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. Gribelin, a French engraver who settled in London, produced this work in 1707. It is based on one of the famous Raphael Cartoons, which were housed at Hampton Court Palace at the time. The composition is structured by a series of ornate, spiralling columns that create a sense of architectural depth and grandeur.

In the centre, the apostles reach out to the supplicant, whose posture conveys his physical struggle. The surrounding figures display varied reactions, from observation to quiet contemplation. Gribelin employs precise line work to render the textures of the drapery, the intricate carvings on the columns, and the architectural details of the temple setting. The inclusion of a small child and a figure carrying a basket adds a layer of everyday activity to the sacred scene.

Below the main image, the print features bilingual text in English and Latin, identifying the subject and the artist. The inclusion of the royal coat of arms and the date confirms the work's connection to the British royal collection. Gribelin's technique demonstrates the technical rigour required to translate large-scale painted cartoons into the medium of print. This reproduction allows for a closer examination of the spatial arrangement and the characterisation of the figures as conceived by Raphael, filtered through the disciplined hand of an eighteenth-century engraver. The work provides a clear example of how classical compositions were disseminated to a wider audience through the medium of engraving during the early eighteenth century.