St. Peter and St. John healing the lame man at the gate of the temple 1549 - 1566

Curator: Immediately striking, isn’t it? A carefully organized yet profoundly human moment. Editor: Yes, the architectural framing devices give a dramatic staging to the almost performative act occurring between Peter, John, and the kneeling man. What are we seeing exactly? Curator: This engraving by Battista Franco, dating from around 1549 to 1566, depicts the biblical scene of "St. Peter and St. John healing the lame man at the gate of the temple." Editor: The precision of line and hatching to create depth is remarkable, giving sculptural form to each figure, yet its narrative structure holds my eye longer. How does it participate in religious dialogue? Curator: Renaissance art frequently served as a visual theology, conveying core religious teachings and values to a wide audience. Depicting miracles like this reinforced the power of faith, particularly in a period marked by religious reformation and questioning of the Church’s authority. Art became a didactic tool. Editor: It is interesting how Franco is clearly playing with foreground and background, framing devices, with multiple vignettes happening, not solely focusing on Peter's touch to the lame man. Curator: Exactly. Notice the almost casual depiction of onlookers. By incorporating these incidental characters, Franco infuses a sense of realism and relatability into the miraculous event, drawing in the viewer. It transforms from pure spectacle to a moment that seems to permeate ordinary life. Editor: I also read something political in the work—perhaps unintended, a focus on piety in contrast to excess. By celebrating such acts of compassion, could the engraving be viewed as promoting the idea of direct religious engagement? Curator: It’s a very insightful interpretation. Battista Franco created not just an illustration, but a visual document imbued with the social and spiritual anxieties of his time. The location within The Met lends the work continued conversation today. Editor: Definitely something to be appreciated for many years to come for its technical accomplishment and storytelling potential.