Saints Peter and John healing the sick at the gate of the temple 1705 - 1730

Hieronymus Ferroni created this engraving, Saints Peter and John healing the sick at the gate of the temple, sometime between 1687 and 1730. During the Baroque period, the Catholic Church emphasized art's role in conveying religious doctrine, often depicting scenes of miracles and divine intervention. Here, Peter and John are shown performing a healing miracle. The image conveys a strong sense of compassion for the suffering. But it also reflects prevailing social hierarchies and expectations around disability and poverty. Those in need are placed in a position of dependence on the Church, rather than as agents in their own lives. Ferroni’s composition directs the viewer's gaze towards the central figures of Peter and John, reinforcing their status as conduits of divine power. How might our contemporary sensibilities challenge this traditional representation? Does the engraving invite us to question the power dynamics inherent in acts of charity and healing? In what ways do we confront such disparities today?