Elisha Punishes Gehazi with Naaman's Leprosy 1547

This 1547 engraving by German artist Augustin Hirschvogel depicts the biblical story of Elisha punishing his servant Gehazi for greed. Gehazi, a servant of the prophet Elisha, had lied to Naaman, a Syrian general, and accepted gifts from him. The artwork shows Elisha confronting Gehazi, who is visibly afflicted with leprosy. The detailed composition and use of linear perspective evoke a sense of drama and moral judgment, characteristic of engravings of the Northern Renaissance. This image exemplifies the didactic nature of religious art during this period.