Antique Print of the Angel descending into the pool of Bethesda by Scheits (1754)

Description: Antique religious print titled 'L'Ange du Seigneur descend dans la piscine des brebis pour la guerison des malades'. The Angel descending into the pool of Bethesda near Jerusalem's Sheep gate, to heal the sick. Christ stands in the center, surrounded by sick people. After going into the water after the angel had stirred it up, they would be healed of their illnesses. (John 5:2-8). This print originates from 'Tafereelen des Ouden en Nieuwen Testaments […] Tableaux du Vieux & Nouveaux Testament.' 

Artists and Engravers: Made by an anonymous engraver after 'Matthias Scheits'. Matthias Scheits (c. 1625-c. 1700) was a German painter and draughtsman. He studied in Hamburg and in the northern Netherlands, where he was a pupil of Philips Wouwerman. His approach to painting was sketchy, divesting his subjects of solemnity and pomp. The generally cheerful scenes are surrounded by dimly lit space with an atmospheric landscape. His works include familiar Dutch genre themes, soldiers at their encampment, music at home, but he also executed religious subjects, notably in 152 drawings for engravings for this illustrated Bible.