The Healing of the Two Blind Men at Jericho 17th century

Nicolas Poussin painted this canvas depicting “The Healing of the Two Blind Men at Jericho” some time in the mid-17th century. Poussin spent much of his career in Rome where the institutions of the Catholic Church were hugely important patrons. So what might it have meant to paint this particular subject at this time? Well, a miraculous healing chimes with the Church’s emphasis on Christ’s divinity and serves as a demonstration of its own spiritual power. The painting’s relatively small scale suggests that it was intended for a private collection. In painting a religious scene for a wealthy patron, Poussin was working within a well-established social structure. To understand more, we might look at the writings of art theorists from Poussin’s time or delve into the history of the Church’s patronage. By doing so, we can understand how his art both reflected and shaped the beliefs of its time.