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Saint Paul
(Baroque Europe )
Verelst probably used a live model for this "portrait," but the old man's sword would have identified him to contemporary viewers as the Apostle Paul holding the symbol of his martyrdom, the sword by which he was beheaded. Paul's theology--emphasizing that personal salvation depends more on the believer's having faith in Christ's capacity to save than on carrying out good works--was fundamental for Dutch Protestants; images of Paul were painted by nearly every Dutch painter of religious subjects.
Verelst was not a student of Rembrandt, but Paul's aged face emerging from shadow to suggest an inner spiritual state owes much to him.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
William T. / Henry Walters Collection, Baltimore, prior to 1909 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1981-1982 | New Light on Old Pictures: Dutch and Flemish Paintings from the Walters. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 4/18/1970 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 1/11/1973 | Examination | examined for catalogue |
| 1/11/1973 | Treatment | cleaned; coated; inpainted; surface cleaned; varnish removed or reduced |
| 5/23/1975 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 8/27/1981 | Examination | examined for exhibition |
| 11/1/1981 | Treatment | coated; inpainted; re-framed; surface cleaned; varnish removed or reduced |
| 8/15/1988 | Examination | examined for condition; examined for exhibition |
Geographies
Netherlands (Place of Origin)
Measurements
16 7/8 x 13 9/16 in. (42.8 x 34.4 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
37.272