The Pool of Bethesda (St. John, Chapter 5) 1772

Editor: This is William Hogarth’s “The Pool of Bethesda (St. John, Chapter 5),” an engraving from 1772, housed at the Metropolitan Museum. The figures are quite theatrical and I’m curious about what the angel figure signifies. What do you see in this print? Curator: Beyond the obvious biblical narrative, Hogarth engages with deep-seated anxieties surrounding charity and healthcare, prevalent in 18th-century England. Consider the context: this image served as a ticket to raise money for a London hospital. How do you think he uses symbolic language to convey this charitable message? Editor: Well, I guess the sick and disabled figures represent the need, but there's also the serene figure of Jesus, perhaps offering a promise of healing... And is that an angel I spy hovering above? Curator: Precisely! Note the composition—the figures are grouped to highlight different aspects of suffering and hope. Hogarth subtly references artistic traditions, inviting the educated viewer to draw parallels with earlier depictions of divine intervention and healing. The angel reminds us of earlier religious scenes, linking current efforts to older, possibly divinely sanctioned actions, thus reinforcing trust and inspiring potential charity. Do you see a relationship to social commentary here? Editor: Absolutely. It's a way of elevating the status of the hospital, presenting it as something almost divinely ordained, more than a social necessity! Curator: And think about the print medium itself; it enabled the broad distribution of this image, embedding the hospital's appeal into the visual consciousness of Londoners. The image creates cultural memory around care. How fascinating is it to view historical images through the lens of the meanings they carry. Editor: Very fascinating indeed, to see this print less as a straightforward depiction of a bible story, and more as a carefully constructed piece of persuasive visual rhetoric tied so closely to its time!