Visiting the sick: the work of mercy revealed through art

The corporal work of mercy «visiting the sick» seen through two paintings.

As is well known, the image is often the most immediate and significant medium for expressing a thought, an action, a feeling. For centuries, the Church has understood the value of this effective and accessible medium, entrusting numerous artists with the mission of spreading profound messages.

The painful experience of illness

Telemaco Signorini’s «The Ward of the Agitated» (1865) captures fully the state in which the human spirit finds itself when facing the certainty of an illness, whether mild or severe. The mind, which cannot always accept adversity and sickness, sometimes reacts in unusual, unpredictable, and often uncontrollable ways.

The many expressions of the sick remind us of how deeply they need not only treatment, but above all accompaniment and comfort. In the vast and bleak hall depicted by Signorini, which gathers the «madwomen», the artist left a wide open space in the upper portion of the room—an expansive void weighed down by the dull yellow light bearing down upon the figures.

It is the void of suffering, grief, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead, without knowing when, how, or whether it will ever end. Since all of us have encountered illness directly or indirectly, it is clear how crucial it is to heed the Church’s call to assist the infirm.

The warmth of closeness

How sweet, by contrast, is the peace radiating from Albert Anker’s painting (Switzerland 1831–1910) «Devotion to Grandfather» from 1893. Here, in a corner of the humble room, the painter shows an elderly man resting against cushions in his armchair, the usual blanket over his legs, his eyes lowered, perhaps lost in memory, while his young grandson in a work apron reads attentively from a book.

The boy’s face reflects his earnest dedication to doing something pleasing for his grandfather, keeping him good company, and easing the somber thoughts of an ailing loved one. Warm brown tones blend harmoniously, creating a sense of serenity that softens life’s hardships through the loving care of those carrying out this vital work of charity.

Many writers and artists have known such pain firsthand, transforming it into generosity and enduring masterpieces.

Cover image: Biblioterapia italiana