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Notes
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The flecks on the old man's face are not just discolourations of the paint, but are thought to represent leprosy. It has been suggested that he is King Uzziah, King of Judaa 787 BC–736 BC, who was stricken with the disease after burning incense in the temple of Jerusalem, a privilege reserved for priests only. He might also be Naaman, the commander of the army of the King of Damascus, a leper who was cured after bathing seven times in the River Jordan on the advice of Elisha (a disciple of the prophet Elijah, known to perform miracles). This story is told in the Book of Kings. Cardinal Mazarin, said to be the most powerful man in France when he died in 1661, owned the original painting by Rembrandt of 1639, now in the Devonshire collection at Chatsworth.
Title
King Uzziah Stricken with Leprosy (?)
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 99 x W 92 cm
Accession number
1257105
Acquisition method
bequeathed by Ralph Bankes, 1981
Work type
Painting
