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Peter Paul Rubens, 'The Miraculous Draught of Fishes', 1618-19

About the work

Overview

According to the Gospel of Luke (5: 1–11), Christ one day approached two fishing boats on the Sea of Galilee. After boarding one and preaching from it, he told the fishermen to cast their nets. Although they had worked all night and caught nothing, the fisherman agreed; when they hauled the nets back in, they were near breaking from the bountiful catch. Astounded by this miracle, the fishermen became disciples of Christ.

The composition of this sketch is based on the central panel of a triptych made by Rubens for Notre Dame au delà de la Dyle, the church of the Mechelen Fishmongers’ Guild. The sketch was used as the basis for an engraving by Schelte à Bolswert, who worked for Rubens in Antwerp.

Key facts

Details

Full title
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes
Artist dates
1577 - 1640
Date made
1618-19
Medium and support
black chalk and oil on paper, mounted on canvas
Dimensions
55 × 85 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1861
Inventory number
NG680
Location
Room 18
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
17th-century Flemish Frame

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.

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