After Jacob de Gheyn III, 'Saint Paul seated reading', about 1620
About the work
Overview
Jacob de Gheyn III learned painting and engraving from his father, Jacob de Gheyn II. It’s unclear if this painting is a copy after de Gheyn III’s etching of the same subject, or if the painting was made first. A preparatory drawing (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest) depicts Paul in reverse.
In both etching and drawing, the foreground extends further than in the painting, and the tip of the sword protrudes over a ledge. The engraved Saint Paul is a companion piece to an engraving of Saint Peter: the two apostles face each other. In both painting and print, Paul’s attributes are a book – the bespectacled saint is reading what is likely to be the Gospel of Christ – and a sword, symbolising his martyrdom.
Jacob de Gheyn III was not as prolific as his father. He became a collector and had his portrait painted by the young Rembrandt (Dulwich Picture Gallery, London), whose paintings he owned.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Saint Paul seated reading
- Artist
- After Jacob de Gheyn III
- Artist dates
- about 1596 - 1641
- Date made
- about 1620
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 120.2 × 96.8 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1921
- Inventory number
- NG3590
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Neil MacLaren, revised and expanded by Christopher Brown, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Dutch School: 1600–1900’, London 1991; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1960Maclaren, Neil, National Gallery Catalogues: The Dutch School, 2 vols, London 1960
-
1991Maclaren, Neil, revised by Christopher Brown, National Gallery Catalogues: The Dutch School, 1600-1900, 2nd edn (revised and expanded), 2 vols, London 1991
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.