Christ, on the left, extends his hand towards the man blind from birth (John 9:1–8) on the right. A thin diagonal line incised
in the background of the panel indicates that Christ’s right hand may originally have held a wand with which to anoint the blind
man’s eyes. While the blind man has been carved in profile, Christ’s body and face are turned slightly outwards, allowing us a
better view of the miracle. The lower part of the panel may have been left blank by the sculptor for reasons unknown, or may have
contained an inscription that was destroyed at a later date. The extension of the robes of the two figures over the border of the
blank section of the panel is part of Duncan’s restoration.
The Latin inscription in the border reads: + ET PRAETERIENS ⋅ VIDI[T] (down the left side) {HOMINEM CAECVM} A NATIBITATE ⋅
ET S{ANAVIT EVM} (down the right side). Translation: ‘+ And passing by he saw a {man blind} from birth and {healed him}’.
