Art: Jesus Cures the Lepers (and others)
Ten Lepers Minus One
We are nearing the end of the year exploring Luke’s Gospel. Soon Jesus will be entering Jerusalem for his final trial.
But as he sets his face for Jerusalem, he encounters still more marginalized members of ancient Palestine—the lepers.
The disease was so feared that colonies were created in the most bleak areas to separate them from the healthy.
Leprosy is rare today. It can be cured. In Jesus’ day it was a disease that you could not hide. It was a death sentence, at least as far as living with any quality of life or ever living with anyone but other lepers ever again. The tenth leper was separating himself from the only people he had probably known since his disease became apparent.
This painting is by William Brassey Hole who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Hole was very fastidious in his details. Here is a link that discusses his methods. He traveled to study and learn the culture of the regions he painted. However, he couldn’t escape his time. He often depicts architecture that wasn’t built in Bible times and the wardrobe (which he collected for his models) was often more Arabic than Jewish as the demographics had changed in 1800 years. What I like about this depiction is the focus on the face of the thankful leper. The happy lepers are blips in the background.
Also from the 19th century is this version by French artist Jean Marie Melchior Doze. He takes a much more dramatic approach to telling this story. All those lepers just begging for Jesus’ attention. Doze concentrates on cure—not the reaction!
The story has long caught the attention of artists for centuries. This dates back to medieval times.
I like this one with the life of the times depicted as much as the key characters. Jesus is walking along probably passing many a shepherd, goatherd or cowherd. Then he encounters people who need care just as much as the animals need care.
Don’t you just want to join the happy dancers in the background? They are leaping off the page with joy. This image appears in several places on the web. No one seems to know the artist. If you know, please share. I have a guess but I haven’t been able to verify.
Thanks!!
I don’t know who the artist is but the style is similar to a contemporary artist who sells prints of his religious work. Google James B. Janknegt. Hope this helps! Thanks for the comment!
I’d like to know who painted that picture, too! I might like to get a reproduction of one of his/her paintings for my office, but can’t find any place that the artist is referenced.