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Museum of Art

AT BETHESDA’S WATERS

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF CARL BLOCH’S MASTERPIECE AT BYU
"Christ’s healing power is more than physical. He has the power to make a person whole, to heal the soul as well as the body. The magnificent painting by Carl Heinrich Bloch of Christ Healing the Sick at the Pool of Bethesda portrays Christ both as a healer and a comforter. The original painting, a wonderful gift, has just arrived on campus and will be the signature piece for the Museum of Art. We hope it will be a constant reminder of our heritage and our mission."
President Merrill J. Bateman, BYU Devotional, September 18, 2001

Twenty years ago, the Museum of Art learned of an incredible opportunity: the chance to obtain an original, iconic Carl Heinrich Bloch altarpiece. After months of negotiations, the Bethesda Indre Mission and Danish government approved the sale and, through the generosity of dedicated museum donors, Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda miraculously made its way to Utah in September 2001, where it has blessed the lives of the Museum’s visitors ever since.

We invite you to celebrate this inspiring painting with us. Watch a new docuseries on its history and impact, with regular new installments featuring scholars, artists, and students. Revel in exclusive historical photos available on the Museum of Art app. Browse the resources on this page. Be inspired at a series of events in the shadow of the masterpiece. Most importantly, stand and behold this original wonder for yourself at the Museum of Art and see if you too can’t be healed by the waters of Bethesda.

Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda
Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890), 'Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda,' 1883, oil on canvas, 100 3/4 x 125 1/2 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by Jack R. and Mary Lois Wheatley, 2001.

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Carl Bloch and the Commission

10 minutes
Age 12+
Main Level
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The Journey to BYU

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Watch the Exclusive Docuseries

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HOW HAS THIS PAINTING INSPIRED YOU? SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WITH US AT MOA@BYU.EDU