Saint Francis Heals the Grievous Wounds of One John at Lerida, plate two from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this intricate woodcut, Saint Francis kneels to heal a man named John, whose grievous wounds are visible on his leg. The scene unfolds beneath a towering, gnarled tree that dominates the composition, its branches reaching skyward. The stark black and white contrasts typical of woodcuts emphasize the dramatic moment, drawing the eye to the figures and their expressions. Beyond the central action, a bustling landscape teems with life and architectural details, offering glimpses into the world of 16th-century Brabant. This work, created in 1512, demonstrates the detailed narrative style of the period, inviting viewers to explore every corner of the image.

DETAILS

Artist: Hieronymus Bosch
Date: 1512
Medium: Woodcut on paper
Location: Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions: Image: 8.1 × 10.1 cm (3 1/4 × 4 in.); Image/text: 15.1 × 10.2 cm (6 × 4 1/16 in.); Sheet: 19.9 × 15.2 cm (7 7/8 × 6 in.)
Collection: Prints and Drawings
Culture: Germany
Credit line: Print Sales Miscellaneous Fund

ART MOVEMENTS

Northern Renaissance

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What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Pick one and we’ll show you exactly where to look.

Saint Francis Heals the Grievous Wounds of One John at Lerida, plate two from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century

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01

The haloed friar

Find the friar at the center with a halo and a knotted rope belt. He is the saint, and he reaches toward the patient in the bed.

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02

The man in bed

On the right, a bare-chested man lies propped up in a bed with posts and a pillow. He is the sick patient, and the scene centers on his suffering.

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03

Worried onlookers

At the left, a woman holds her hands to her chest while others look on from an arched doorway behind her. Their worried faces suggest the patient is gravely ill.

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04

Tiled floor

The grid of floor tiles slants back from the foreground to the wall. It gives this small room depth and leads the eye to the saint.

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05

Hatched shading

Look at the friar's robe and the wall behind him. Short parallel cut lines build up folds and shadow using only black ink on white paper.

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AUDIO DEEP DIVE

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THE ARTIST

Hieronymus Bosch

1450–1516 · Northern Low Countries

Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch painter from the Northern Low Countries, filled his oak panels with fantastic illustrations of religious concepts, from the Garden of Eden to macabre depictions of hell.

Read Bosch’s full story