The Pool of Bethesda

William Hogarth 1697 - 1764

Summary

Scene depicting Christ healing a lame man at the Pool of Bethesda. Christ stands to the left in a red and blue robe, a crowd of people with different illnesses gathered behind him under the shade of a tree. In front of Christ, the lame man lies on the ground, unable to walk. Behind him, a poor mother and child are being pushed aside by the servants of a wealthy woman on the right, who is being carried to the well. Ruined arched walls provide a backdrop to this scene, and figures attempting to clamber over them in the background to the left. A single angel is flying overhead.