Paul healing a man who could not walk 1663

Karel du Jardin painted this monumental canvas of Paul healing a man who could not walk, sometime in the mid-17th century. This work uses the imagery of the bible to make a statement about the role of charity. The beggars who surround Paul would have been recognizable figures in Dutch cities at the time. The painting speaks to debates about poverty, public assistance, and the moral obligations of the wealthy. Du Jardin was working in a society that was growing rich on overseas trade and that was becoming a major center of European art. The Rijksmuseum, where this painting hangs, was founded centuries later to tell the story of Dutch history and culture. We can ask how institutions like this shape the way we see paintings like this one, that speak to the enduring tension between wealth and poverty. Looking at this work, historians might study sermons, pamphlets, and poor-relief records from the time. Attending to the social context helps us to understand how images like this one engaged with the pressing concerns of their time.